WHERE goals are concerned, Alan Shearer has always had what you might call the gift of the grab.

But Palace manager Trevor Francis, who scored a few of his own in his time, insists the Newcastle captain has developed a new quality - the gift of the gab.

Since he retired from the international game after Euro 2000, former England skipper Shearer has found time to articulate his views on Sky Sports.

Francis, himself a regular contributor on the satellite channel, believes Shearer is still a striker par excellence, but adds: "He's also improving as a pundit on Sky TV!''

For the time being at least, Shearer is sticking to the day job.

And rarely has he been so gainfully employed. His goal in this FA Cup third-round victory over First Division Palace was a stunner and his sixth in as many games, just one short of his best run of scoring in successive matches for the Magpies.

Shearer scored seven in seven under Kevin Keegan in season 1996-97, his first with his home-town club following a then-world record £15m move from Blackburn.

But his latest goals rush is even more impressive, given that his previous run was punctuated by a six-game lay-off because of a groin operation.

And this time, Shearer has returned to the goal standard - he now has 13 in all this season - after recovering from knee surgery last May which determined whether he would ever play again.

A self-effacing Shearer was unaware of the statistics. "I can't remember what my best run is,'' he said.

"But I'm enjoying my football at the moment. I'm sure there'll come a time when the goals aren't flowing and when that happens, you have to deal with it.

"But I hate talking about myself. It was important we won after two defeats and I thought it was a good, professional performance. It was a potential banana skin, especially after what happened to Sunderland against West Brom earlier in the day.

"We were determined the same wasn't going to happen to us.''

United manager Bobby Robson has marvelled at the way Shearer has rediscovered his goal touch after such a serious injury.

"He's on two legs now - last year he was playing on one,'' said Robson. "He's given a really commanding centre-forward's display, and got his usual goal. He was fearless.

"Shay Given was named man of the match and he made a couple of important saves for us.

"But Alan would have been my choice for man of the match in terms of mileage and physical effort. He's had a battering, but he's taken it and given it back.

"What about that tackle in the left-back spot. I turned to young Shola Ameobi on the bench and said: 'Don't forget that. Learn from him, Shola.' Alan tackled the guy like a centre-half.''

Ubiquitous he may have been, but Shearer is always at his best when in sight of goal.

The free-kick which led to his 39th-minute opener was awarded for handball against Tony Popovic, though Francis later revealed his defender had "a big red mark'' on his chest to show he was guilty of no offence.

Nolberto Solano rolled the resultant free-kick to Shearer, who thumped home a right-foot drive from 20 yards.

"We decided to go for power rather than finesse,'' said Shearer. "I'm not as good as Solano or Laurent Robert on the finesse side.''

That Newcastle didn't take the lead earlier was due in no small measure to Alex Kolinko, who Robson said performed "the save of the century'' when he somehow foiled Olivier Bernard.

The Latvian keeper, who was rounded by Craig Bellamy wide on the Palace left after racing from his goal, miraculously scampered back in time to save Bernard's shot on the line.

Robson was right to insist that his side were then denied "a clear penalty'' by referee Mike Riley when Frenchman Bernard was bundled over by David Hopkin.

But Shearer eased the sense of injustice, which resurfaced in the Palace ranks when Clinton Morrison's clinical 54th-minute finish was wrongly ruled out for offside.

Substitute Clarence Acuna, who had taken over from the injured Gary Speed, made it safe for Newcastle in the 76th minute when he crashed home his third goal of the season after Aaron Hughes had forced the opening.

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