NEWCASTLE United skipper Alan Shearer has revealed how Sir Bobby Robson's constant nagging is increasing Lomana LuaLua's Premiership nuisance value.

LuaLua triggered a goals rush at St. James' Park on Monday when he struck twice as Newcastle stormed to a 4-0 victory over West Ham and claimed pole position in an embryonic Premiership title race.

The Congo striker has now scored five goals in his last six top-flight outings as a stand-in for Shearer's injured partner Craig Bellamy.

And Shearer, who netted Newcastle's third goal against the hapless Hammers, believes that LuaLua's willingness to learn from old master Robson can help the 21-year-old to make the grade.

"His raw talent is unbelievable,'' said Shearer. "He doesn't know what he's going to do himself sometimes, and the crowd don't and we don't either.

"Sometimes he finds the easy things very difficult to do, but the big thing is he wants to be better, he wants to learn and he wants to be helped to turn himself into a better player.

"He's very laid-back. Nothing affects him - the manager keeps nagging him, but he's a great lad.

"He might look shy in front of the cameras and the media, but he's not when he's with the lads.

"He knows he's in a fight for a place - we all are. We all have to work very hard to get places in the team.

"But he's been given his chance and taken it very well. He knows when everyone is fit how hard it will be.''

LuaLua, plucked from the obscurity of Colchester United almost two years ago in a £2.25m deal, is a former gymnast and makes the most of his acrobatic ability by performing somersaults when he scores.

Sir Bobby, 70 next February, has promised to emulate him if Newcastle repeat last season's top-four finish, and Shearer said: "I'd like to be there if he does.''

Robson is building a team for the future, and Shearer added: "Remember, we have a very young side - the average age is about 22 or 23.

"The way we close people down in midfield is fantastic.

"And look at the competition for places in midfield with, Gary Speed, Kieron Dyer, Clarence Acuna, Jermaine Jenas, Nolberto Solano, Laurent Robert and now Hugo Viana.

"There's a big selection there and it's the same up front. That's the way it should be because you won't get anywhere unless you have a big squad.

"The defence played well against West Ham and there is also going to be a lot of emphasis on them because of the goals we have conceded in the past.

"But if they can keep it tight like that, we can go places.

"The strength we are getting is that anyone in the team is liable to score.''

Last season's top six sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Chelsea and Leeds - have all started the new term with victories. But Shearer warned against complacency ahead of his side's Saturday visit to Kevin Keegan's Manchester City.

"We've had a confidence boost, but we all know that 3-0 probably flattered Leeds against Man. City at Elland Road last Saturday,'' said Shearer.

"City will have something to prove and we're well aware of that.''

Speed has a chance of returning after missing the first leg of the Champions' League qualifier against NK Zeljeznicar in Sarajevo and the West Ham game with an ankle injury.

But Acuna (thigh) and defender Andy O'Brien (shin) are still out.

Robson is hoping Bellamy (knee) and winger Laurent Robert (back) will soon be in contention again.

But he has been delighted with the way Portuguese new boy Viana, an £8.5m summer capture from Sporting Lisbon, has deputised for Frenchman Robert on the left flank.

Robson said: "Hugo doesn't speak fluent English - drawing diagrams has been important.

"We do all our explaining through Nobby Solano because they get on well together.

"For a midfield player, Hugo has done very well playing on the left while Laurent has been out.

"He's delighted he made one of the goals against West Ham, but you'll see the best of him when he's playing in the middle."

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