The 38-year-old was plunged in at the deep end when he agreed to take over the relegation threatened Magpies for the final eight matches of a traumatic season which will come to a dramatic conclusion at Aston Villa on Sunday.

Shearer freely admits he has drawn upon the expertise of several of the men under whom he worked during his illustrious playing career, with the likes of Robson, Terry Venables and Kenny Dalglish having made major impressions on him.

However, the 76-year-old, currently fighting his latest battle against cancer, has been in regular touch with his Magpies captain over the last few weeks and has been able to pass on some useful advice.

Shearer said: "Yes, I speak to Bobby on a regular basis.

"We speak to each other quite regularly after games and before games.

"He has given me little bits here and there, which is great. It's nice to speak to him."

Robson, of course, guided the club to successive fourth, third and fifth-place league finishes during a five-year reign which re-established them as genuine challengers at both home and abroad.

He also reached FA Cup and UEFA Cup semi-finals and guided them into the second group stage of the Champions League in 2002/03, a far cry from the mire in which they now find themselves.

The former England manager was among the crowd at St James' on Saturday when Newcastle saw their hopes of easing themselves out of trouble blown apart by Fulham.