The 24-year-old, who was involved in a bust-up with coach John Carver as the Magpies flew out to the Balearics on Tuesday, scored within a minute of being introduced as a second-half substitute to answer his critics in style.

Alan Shearer’s 23rd goal of the season just after half-time had put the visitors firmly in the driving seat, but the Welshman made the tie safe before Shearer claimed his second of the game at the end as crisis club Mallorca wilted.

Newcastle headed for Palma knowing a place in the last eight was well within their grasp, and they turned in a thoroughly professional performance, in which keeper Shay Given was again outstanding, to make the most of their first-leg advantage.

It proved the perfect end to a better day for the Magpies, who had spent the early part of the week trying to defuse Bellamy’s bust-up with Carver.

Interim financial results for the last half-year published this morning had also revealed that their exit from the Champions League had not been as costly as had been feared.

And that added to the confirmation Robson has signed a new one-year contract, made for a happy camp as they headed back to Tyneside.

Newcastle went into the game knowing that their first leg lead was not decisive, but not far off.

And they were equally well aware that an early goal in their favour would all but end the tie as a contest.

That, coupled with Mallorca coach Luis Aragones’ selections problems – he named only three of the men who ran out at St James’ Park a fortnight ago in his starting line-up with a vital Primera Liga relegation battle at Murcia to come on Sunday – left Robson’s men in the box seat.

They might have claimed that invaluable goal twice within the opening nine minutes as first Laurent Robert and then Jermaine Jenas tested replacement keeper Miki.

Newcastle had few real scares in the opening stages, but they were served with a timely reminder the job was far from done on 13 minutes when Jesus Perera and Nene combined to set up Arnold Bruggink, who played under Robson at PSV, and he produced a superb one-handed save from Given with a curling effort.

From that point, Real started to get the bit between their teeth with midfield playmaker Marcos pulling the strings despite the best efforts of Jenas and Gary Speed, meanwhile Perera, Nene and Bruggink were all working well in attack.

But with Jonathan Woodgate, Titus Bramble and Andy O’Brien defiant at the back and Given mopping up well behind them, there was not an awful lot to worry about.

However, as the half wore on, Mallorca warmed to their task and the visitors had two escapes as time ran down towards the break.

First Speed got in a fine block to deny Bruggink in front of goal, and then O’Brien did just enough to put off the Dutchman after substitute Alejandro Campano had found space down the right, and Toni Gonzalez blasted the rebound wide.

Despite losing both Gonzalez and Marcos to injuries before the break, it was the home side which finished the half the stronger, but still no closer to reducing the deficit.

But their momentum was interrupted within 37 seconds of the restart when Shearer seized upon an error by Miki to finally settle the tie.

The keeper’s scuffed clearance fell at the striker’s feet 30 yards out and he took a controlling touch before thumping it into the empty-net to spark mass celebrations among the 2,500 travelling fans.

But if the Spaniards were broken, they were not finished and three times in quick succession they went close to levelling on the night.

Txomin Nagore and Jesus Perera both brought the best out of Given inside two minutes, although the latter wasted another good opportunity when he fired over from close range in between.

With star striker Samuel Eto’o having been introduced as a potential face-saver, Mallorca continued to press.

But it took a solid 63rd-minute block by substitute Fernado Nino to deny Shearer a second and Darren Ambrose might have done better after cutting inside 19 minutes from time.

Jenas lifted a header over from a Speed cross as the tempo waned, but after Robson had sent on Hugo Viana and Bellamy for the closing minutes, the pair combined to increase their side’s lead.

Viana won a challenge on the edge of his own penalty area and the Welshman, who had been on the field for less than a minute, sprinted away before chipping a shot over Miki.

Shearer added a third at the death, tapping home from Olivier Bernard’s inch-perfect cross to rub salt into the Mallorca wounds.