Magpies must be patient if they are to return to form, warns Owen

NEWCASTLE striker Michael Owen has admitted the club will have to be patient as they attempt to drag themselves back into contention for major honours.

The Magpies have not won a trophy since 1969 and will have to get past Barclays Premiership champions Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals later this month if they are to rectify that situation this season.

Newcastle had a run of six games unbeaten under caretaker boss Glenn Roeder before Sunday’s trip to Man United, when a quick-fire double from Wayne Rooney demonstrated just how far they have slipped off the pace since the heights of the Bobby Robson era.

“It is always going to be hard against teams like that,” Owen admitted.

“In the games beforehand, we were playing against decent opposition and we were winning. Against Manchester United in their own backyard, not many teams could get a result there.

“Hopefully, we can build over the years and produce a team which can go to Manchester United and expect to get something,” the England striker said.