Toon fans would welcome 'ace in pack' Owen

Newcastle supporters would welcome the arrival of Michael Owen and ignore the England striker’s preference for a return to Liverpool.

Fanzine editor Mark Jensen believes Magpies fans are relishing the possibility of Owen reviving his one-time international partnership with Alan Shearer at St James’ Park.

The Magpies have announced they have agreed a club record fee for Owen, exceeding the £15m (€22m) paid to Blackburn for Shearer nine years ago.

But 25-year-old Owen has only said he is contemplating a move to the north-east on loan – and only if Liverpool fail to make him a better offer first.

Jensen, editor of ‘The Mag’, insists even a temporary signing would lift the gloom around the club after their early exit from Europe and slow start to the season.

“You could compare this with a game of poker, when you pull an ace out with the last card when everything seems lost,” said Jensen.

“Not only do we need two or three more players in but we need someone who will give the whole club a huge lift and Michael Owen fits the bill.

“He is the Alan Shearer of today who can guarantee you 20 goals a season and he has done it year after year.

“We have been in denial over what has gone on this summer – we had a small squad last season and we’ve sold more than we’ve bought since then.”

Such has been the extent of Newcastle’s fall out of the Champions League picture that Jensen can understand Owen’s desire to prefer a move to Liverpool.

“I am amazed that other big clubs have not gone in for Owen and while we would acknowledge that the reason we would have him is because they were not interested, it would still be encouraging,” Jensen added.

“You have got to live in the real world when you have finished 14th and are already out of Europe.

“The promise of playing in front of 50,000 fans every week is all well and good but when you look at the bare facts it is a different matter.”