Ameobi twice the player Bellamy was - Souness

The Magpies' boss reckoned the Wales international, who on Monday reluctantly joined Celtic on loan until the end of the season, did not score nearly enough goals for a club seriously challenging for honours.

Souness and Bellamy had a public fallout when the controversial striker feigned injury ahead of Newcastle's Premiership game at Arsenal ten days ago, before later, on national television, accusing his manager of lying.

Souness subsequently stated Bellamy would never play for the club while he was in charge and tried to ship him off to Birmingham, before Bhoys' boss Martin O'Neill took him to Glasgow.

The United boss believes that a side must have two strikers capable of scoring 20 goals a season if they are to sustain a genuine challenge for trophies, and Bellamy could not deliver that.

Souness, however, believes Shola Ameobi can emerge from the surly striker's shadow and be the man to plunder the goals required to win United's first piece of major silverware in 36 years.

"I believe Shola has the capability of getting 20 goals a season," admitted the Newcastle chief.

"He has never had an extended run in the side. And the chap who has just gone (Bellamy), only averaged 9.3 goals a season, and half of those goals were not in the top flight.

"That is not good enough for a striker or good enough for a club like this if we're looking to be challenging.

"We need to have two strikers scoring near 20 goals a season on a regular basis if we're to get anywhere near the big boys. And if you look at the big boys they've all got them.

"They've also got one or two midfield players who can chip in with goals, and we need to get goals from all departments.

"We've had that person consistently but we've never had anyone else near that and you can't rely on Alan Shearer, he's 34 years old, to keep our heads above water again."

Newcastle fans seem to be split on whether the Nigeria-born striker has what it takes to become one of the Premiership's top strikers.

His ability has never been in question, but consistency still provides the biggest debate.

Souness, however, is in no doubt the 23-year-old - whom he likened to a better version of former Derby and Manchester City forward Paolo Wanchope - has all the attributes to be a top player after witnessing him make seasoned internationals Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole look ordinary.

"I think if you ask people who have played against him they'll say he's extremely difficult to play against," said the 51-year-old Scot.

"He has a wingspan of a 747 aeroplane, and he cannot only hold up the player who is challenging, but his mate as well.

"He's a big powerful man with great technique, but you would say right now that he doesn't score enough goals. He gets into wonderful positions, but he sometimes wants to get a clearer view of goal or pass it to a team-mate.

"We have to get him more selfish in front of goal. But he's quick, he has the size you would wish for in a centre forward. He's also a great lad and a pleasure to work with. I look at the way in recent weeks he's messed around top defenders. People don't like playing against him.

"I think he's such a nice human being that he wants to share everything with everybody.

"I don't want him to be sharing in front of goal. I want him to be so greedy that other players are throwing their heads back and arms up in anger when he's shot. But I never see that as Shola is always trying to be the nice guy."

Souness also added that the striker could eventually go on and wear the famous number nine shirt when Alan Shearer calls it a day.

"I have no doubt Shola will be a top striker at this football club and show his doubters. But whoever gets that shirt will have one enormous burden, from Malcolm MacDonald to Andy Cole, and to whoever else has had it. It is a big responsibility for Shola or whoever else."

The Newcastle manager received a boost ahead of his side's game against Kevin Keegan's Manchester City this evening when Nicky Butt declared himself fit enough to travel with the squad.

The game comes too early for Jean-Alain Boumsong. The £8m signing is expected to be fit for Saturday's game against Charlton at St James' Park.

l Kevin Keegan has praised his old Liverpool pal Souness over his handling of the Bellamy saga and admitted the management game is harder than it has ever been.

One day after his own surly striker Nicolas Anelka departed for Fenerbahce, the Manchester City boss outlined the problems modern-day managers now face in their efforts to deliver success.

No longer is the job about team selection and tactics. Now, Keegan believes the men in charge have to cope with the knowledge that part of their power has been stripped away.

''It is more difficult to be a football manager now than it has ever been,'' said the former England coach.

''The players are wealthy young men in their own right and they have a lot of power. Clubs don't sell them, agents and the players themselves do that.

''It is a lot different to the sport Pele described as 'the beautiful game' but that is the reality of the situation and you have to react to it.

''Graeme has not had an easy week or two because of problems with a certain player but he has acted in a manner he feels is appropriate for the benefit of Newcastle United.

''He has been decisive and sent a message out, so from that point of view it has been good management. Sometimes you have to forsake a good player to get the better out of others.''

Keegan's only signing during the transfer window - Dutch midfielder Kiki Musampa - will come straight into the side to face Newcastle, ousting Antoine Sibierski from the left-sided midfield slot.