Shearer and Owen can fire Newcastle to top: Souness

Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer (L) celebrates after scoring in the 3-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion. Newcastle boss Graeme Souness believes his golden strike force of Shearer and Michael Owen can fire the Magpies into a challenge at the top of the Premiership.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness believes his golden strike force of Alan Shearer and Michael Owen can fire the Magpies into a challenge at the top of the Premiership.

Owen grabbed two goals while Shearer came off the bench to score the third in a 3-0 win over struggling West Brom at The Hawthorns on Sunday as Newcastle moved up to 10th place in the table.

Owen returned after his hamstring strain to take his tally to four goals in five games following his 17-million-pound switch from Real Madrid.

Shearer's 197th goal for the club means he is now only three short of Jackie Milburn's Newcastle record tally of 200.

"There were a couple of fine goals from Michael Owen and Alan Shearer gets one as well - but there are no surprises there," said Souness.

"That's what they are about. They are as good as they get at getting goals out of nothing.

"They have done it all their lives and will continue to do it. They are top drawer. We are a fortunate club in being able to afford players like that. They decide games of football."

Souness has now presided over three wins in the last week and believes having players like his twin strikers as well as Turkish star Emre and England midfield man Kieron Dyer is key to Newcastle keeping up their momentum.

"This was the first game since last November where I've had decisions to make about who to leave out. The team has picked itself up until this day," said Souness.

"We've said all along once we got our better players on the pitch, we would have a different dimension to us. Today you saw Emre and Solano and Dyer all give us something different. They are good football players.

"Now we want to finish as high up the Premier League as possible - that is the target - and give the supporters something to smile about. We have an enjoyable season in the league if we get our players back."