Ameobi wants a bit of company.

Byline: By Paul Gilder

Shola Ameobi will keep a close eye on the St James's Park treatment room this week after admitting he is desperate for striking support following a thankless return to Newcastle's starting line up.

With Alan Shearer and Michael Owen both sidelined with their respective hernia and groin problems at the weekend, the former England Under-21 international faced Chelsea as United's sole attacker.

With his best efforts having been stymied by the champions, it was clear Ameobi had not enjoyed his isolated role.

Although his first-team place will come under threat when the club's senior strikers recover their fitness, the 24-year-old is determined to lead the line again when the Magpies attempt to bounce back from their capital drubbing at Everton on Sunday.

But he is hoping he will not be forced to operate on his own again, after admitting playing as the lone forward in a 4-5-1 formation does not suit his style.

"It is always more difficult to play as the lone striker but hopefully it won't be the case again," he said.

"I was hoping to play with Michael and I was looking forward to it.

"It was a real shame when he pulled out because we missed him ( me more than most. Hopefully we will get some good news on his fitness this week.

"It's difficult to play up front on your own, but you just have to do what you can. I felt that I fought well for the full 90 minutes and I think I made it difficult for Chelsea at the back.

"Their defenders will feel that they have been in the game and that's all I can do. It's difficult to take on three players on your own.

"I did all I could and I gave 100%, but it will be nice to get some of our players back."

Despite losing Shearer and Owen ( the latter player on the morning of the match ( Souness did have striking options. But, rather than field Ameobi alongside Michael Chopra, whose role was restricted to that of a 20-minute substitute appearance, Souness opted instead for a system which gave his team a toothless look.

The United boss had watched the pair share five goals for the reserves five days earlier. But his reluctance to call upon Chopra, coupled with his team's lack of a creative spark, meant an ill-supported Ameobi's contribution was minimal. Shearer, Owen and Albert Luque are all hoping to return in time to face Everton this weekend. Should everything go according to plan, United should be much more dynamic going forward.

"It would have been difficult enough to get a result at Chelsea if we had had all of those players," said Ameobi.

"But without them, it was always going to be a tall order. Even so, we managed to match Chelsea for a long time.

"But what happened was a massive disappointment. "We have to respond in the right manner and this is an important match for us. We need to bounce back at Everton ( we don't want to lose again."

Given the nature of Newcastle's defeat ( defensive errors cost the Magpies dear ( the main focus of this week's training programme will be on tightening up at the back.

Graeme Souness is hoping Steven Taylor will return from his shoulder problem ahead of schedule. But, with the teenager's comeback still at least a month away, improving the performances of Titus Bramble and Jean-Alain Boumsong is a must.

"We could have accepted what happened at Stamford Bridge if Chelsea had outplayed us at the weekend," said Ameobi.

"But if you make mistakes against the kind of world-class players Chelsea have, they will punish you.

"Chelsea put a bit of pressure on us and forced us into those mistakes. But I don't think 3-0 was justified. We have to learn from it, pick ourselves up and move on."