Newcastle United's dream '00s five-a-side team named - including controversial Kieron Dyer call

Newcastle United fans are currently experiencing one of their best ever Premier League seasons and they remain firmly on course to secure a return to the Champions League for the second time in the Eddie Howe era.

The last manager to secure Champions League football in two separate seasons for the North East club was the late great Sir Bobby Robson and it was during his tenure the Toon Army enjoyed the highs of beating Juventus, Feyenoord, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV Eindhoven among others in Europe, while progressing from a mid-table team into one of the strongest clubs in English football.

The Robson era was where Newcastle played their best football during the 2000s and with that in mind, we have compiled the best possible five-a-side Magpies team from 2000 to 2010, with two England internationals and a Welsh icon failing to make the cut in our 121 formation.

Newcastle United’s dream 2000s 5-a-side team

Goalkeeper: Shay Given: Republic of Ireland international Shay Given was Newcastle United’s first-choice shot-stopper between 1997 and 2009, making him an obvious choice between the posts. He was not the biggest goalkeeper in the world at 6’1, but was renowned for his exceptional speed across his line, incredible agility and superb reflexes. He made the PFA Team of the Season on two occasions during his time at Newcastle and remains an all time great for The Boys in Green with 134 international caps.

Centre-back: Jonathan Woodgate: Attack is the best form of defence in this 5-a-side team, but there was still room for one centre-back in the form of Jonathan Woodgate. The former England international may have only played one season for Newcastle after arriving for £8m from Leeds United, but when he was fit and firing he was one of the very best defenders in the league at that time. So much so that his form at St. James’ Park led to a move to Real Madrid. The less said about his debut in the Spanish capital the better.

Central midfield: Gary Speed: The perfect all-rounder Gary Speed still hold the record for being the third highest appearance holder in Premier League history at 535 and it could be argued he played most of his best football at Newcastle United.

Speed was a versatile player who could play in left midfield, central midfield, and also at left-back. He rarely missed a game, was blessed with excellent stamina, physicality, an eye for a pass and also superb ability in the air. He was regarded as a superb leader and was described by Bobby Robson as ‘brave as a lion.’

Central midfield: Nolberto Solano: The first Peruvian to play in the Premier League and someone who famously endeared himself to fans by describing himself as an ‘adopted Geordie’.

The trumpet-playing midfielder was a cult hero on Tyneside throughout both spells with the club and was capable of playing both as a winger, a central midfielder and even right-back. He had exceptional passing ability, tremendous technique to take free kicks and corners and a superb ability to strike a ball from distance. He scored 48 goals and contributed 78 assists across all competitions during his time in the North East which is enough to keep out a number of other glamorous attacking names from the era.

Striker: Alan Shearer: The easiest decision in this list. With 260 goals Alan Shearer is the top scorer in the Premier League era and he scored 148 of those top-flight goals while playing for Newcastle. By the mid 2000s, he may not have had the same pace he had in the decade prior but he more than made up for that with his physicality, positional sense and clinical finishing in front of goal.

Honourable mentions

In 5-a-side you are typically allowed at least three substitutes to change the game and with that in mind it’s worth considering former Wales international Craig Bellamy due to his terrific speed, incredible work rate and ability to score goals. His ability to press defenders and make it difficult for them would be invaluable in the modern game - in full flow he was a nightmare to defend against with 43 goals and 23 assists in 128 appearances for the Magpies.

Kieron Dyer is another player that at his best would be capable of changing a game in his team’s favour. His career was hampered by injuries but at his best he was blessed with exceptional speed, agility and the ability to create chances for his teammate, with him notably making the PFA Team of the Season in 2002/03.

Another game-changer from the bench could come in the form of Obafemi Martins. The Nigeria international also had bags of speed and the ability to strike the ball with immense power and cause all kinds of problems for defences. He scored 17 goals across all competitions during the 2006/07 season in what was arguably the best of his career.

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