Ameobi – who has made 44 appearances in European competition – has 13 goals to his name. Shearer is ahead by some distance – United’s all-time record scorer netted 30 times in UEFA competitions – and it’s unlikely that Ameobi will ever equal, or surpass, that figure.
Shola Ameobi: “I’m proud of the record.
“To be mentioned in the same breath as Alan Shearer is a great honour, but I’m a long way off his record.
“I just need to keep plugging away.
“Hopefully, this won’t be this team’s only stint at Europe.
“I hope it can be a regular occurrence, with the squad the manager’s trying to build here.
If that’s the case, I hope I can get somewhere near it.
“I love these nights – it takes me back to the Champions League and the UEFA Cup during Sir Bobby's time here.
“It’s great to have these nights, because the fans love them. They create a great atmosphere – there aren’t many better nights.
“I like to think I can play with anybody, so it doesn't bother me who I play with.
“You know that Papiss and Demba will get on the end of things, and they’re easy to play with. I like to get them on the end of things, and hopefully I can help the team.
“The lads who aren’t in that starting XI (in the Premier League) want to show the manager what they are about when it comes to Europe.
“The guys who have filled in haven’t let anybody down.”