Kevin Keegan, the man who signed the latter in his time as Newcastle manager and this week failed to land the former, much to his frustration, was left to rue both facts as his side became the Magpies’ 10th successive Premiership victims at St James’ Park as Sir Bobby Robson’s men climbed to third in the table.

Shearer, on his return from a one-match ban, needed just 10.5 seconds to remind his side just how important he is to them when he charged down Carlo Nash’s clearance and fired into the empty net to get his side off to the perfect start.

Nash was later to redeem himself with two saves each from Craig Bellamy, who wrapped up the points with a 64th-minute second, and Laurent Robert, but although City battled all the way to the whistle, they never really recovered from that early blow.

Newcastle’s under-pressure defence remained largely defiant in the face of a stern examination from Nicolas Anelka, who only once really found the time and space to cause any damage, although Ali Benarbia was unfortunate to see a 24th-minute effort come back off the post.

Keegan’s first Premiership return to St James’ Park was always going to be an eventful one, but few of the 52,152 who packed into the stadium could have expected the game to start so explosively.

From the kick-off, the ball was rolled back to former Magpie Steve Howey, who in turn played it on for Nash.

The keeper’s first touch was not the best, but when he looked up and prepared to clear, he saw the whites of Shearer’s eyes as the 32-year-old scampered across the newly-laid turf to block and then slot into the empty net.

It could hardly have been a worse beginning for the visitors, but to their credit, they did not let it weigh on their minds as they played a full part in an enthralling contest which suggested that there would be more on the way.

Shaun Goater could have levelled within seven minutes but failed to control in front of goal from Aaron Hughes’ misplaced header, but Nash had to redeem himself three minutes later after

Shearer played Bellamy in, the keeper getting down well to block the Welshman’s shot.

Marc-Vivien Foe’s late runs into the box were causing the home side problems, as were the pace of Anelka and Benarbia’s probing passes, and it was the Algerian who went closest to levelling with 24 minutes gone when he collected Niclas Jensen’s pass inside the box but saw his shot come back off the post.

Howey had to clear Shearer’s shot off the line with Nash beaten two minutes later after Kieron Dyer had split the City defence, and Nash saved well from Jermaine Jenas on the half-hour.

But the visitors were not prepared to lie down and die and it took a good interception by the impressive Olivier Bernard to deny Goater a point-blank shot at goal, and Foe sliced horribly wide after finding space inside the box five minutes before half-time.

Newcastle had a good chance to extend their lead within 19 seconds of the restart, but Dyer failed to capitalise on good work by Hughes, Shearer and Bellamy, and the Welshman himself forced another good save from Nash on 52 minutes after being put in on goal by Nolberto Solano.

But it was then that City rallied, and they should have been level with 59 minutes gone after Anelka finally found time and space.

He raced on to Benarbia’s through-ball as the Newcastle defence slept, and although Shay Given did well to get a hand to the ball as the Frenchman tried to round him, Foe passed up an opportunity to score when he missed his kick in front of goal and then Goater drove his shot straight at the recovering keeper.

But Newcastle’s pace on the break was at times frightening, and they put it to good use with 64 minutes gone to go 2-0 up.

Jenas delivered a superb pass into Robert’s run down the left, and he teed up the ball perfectly for Bellamy to slide in at the far post and dispatch it beyond Nash.

Shearer headed a Robert cross straight at the keeper and Nash then saved well from Robert after Dyer had played him in on 75 minutes to preserve his side’s fading hopes.

The Frenchman was denied once again by Nash five minutes later after working a short corner move, but although Kevin Horlock kept Given on his toes with an 82nd-minute attempt from distance, the points had long been secured.