Dyer back in Toon with Newcastle fans

Graeme Souness believes Kieron Dyer (pictured) has succeeded in his battle to win back Newcastle supporters following his winner in the 2-1 Premiership victory over Bolton Wanderers.

Graeme Souness believes Kieron Dyer has succeeded in his battle to win back Newcastle supporters following his winner in the 2-1 Premiership victory over Bolton Wanderers.

The England midfielder has mounted a six-month campaign to re-gain favour among the club's followers, after finding himself a hate figure in the wake of his refusal to play out of position on the right wing in the opening game of the season against Middlesbrough.

Dyer feared his Newcastle career was over after admitting he has suffered personal abuse from fans and gone through hell following his public fall-out with former manager Bobby Robson.

It was swiftly accompanied by an embarrassing early encounter with Robson's successor Souness, who hauled the player to a city centre police station late last year after the 26-year-old was caught on CCTV urinating in the street.

Souness said: "I've got no complaints about Kieron. He's a mischievous character, and barring one unscheduled trip to a place we didn't want to go, he's been no trouble.

"He's done really well to be accepted back into the fold by supporters. He knows he made a mistake at the start of the season but he's trying his best to make up for it."

Dyer pounced to seal a fourth straight victory in the 67th minute with a crisp half-volley into the roof of the net after Alan Shearer's shot bounced back off Bruno N'Gotty.

Souness has challenged the former Ipswich midfielder - who has a ratio of one goal every eight appearances since coming to St James's Park six years ago - to forge a reputation as regular 10-goal a season player.

Newcastle have lost just one game in 12, and the Scot added: "I'm pleased for Kieron, he was excellent again and his goal rounds off a good display.

"He has to become a 10-goal a season midfielder. Teams that win things have players like him who get 10 goals regularly. The only criticism of him at the moment that he doesn't score enough."

Lee Bowyer repaid Souness' faith for picking him ahead of Nicky Butt by heading Newcastle into a 35th minute lead, pushing his way past Dyer to reach Stephen Carr's cross after the England midfielder had launched a flowing move from half-way.

The advantage lasted only six minutes as Bolton equalised through Stelios Giannakopoulos.

Impressive build-up play by Jay-Jay Okocha caused havoc in the Newcastle defence as Greek international Giannakopoulos produced a precise right-foot volley from 15 yards following a cushioned flick from Gary Speed on the Wales midfielder's first return to Tyneside following his summer switch across the Pennines.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce admitted his side fell apart after the interval as they failed to adapt to the loss of full-back Nicky Hunt, who was carried off with a dislocated shoulder.

Allardyce added: "I'm hugely disappointed in the result and the second-half performance. We did really well before the interval but in the end lost deservedly by encouraging Newcastle to attack until we cracked."

Bolton's first defeat in 10 games this year should have been more emphatic, as Ricardo Gardner cleared off the line from Jean-Alain Boumsong, while N'Gotty escaped strong penalty claims when appearing to handle in the first-half.

Jussi Jaaskelainen was by far the busier of the goalkeepers, and the Finn pulled off a fine double save to deny Shearer and Dyer before Bowyer broke the deadlock with his sixth goal of the season.