Keegan: 'Owen deserves better service'

Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan will attempt to reopen the supply lines to star striker Michael Owen as he plots his first victory since he returned to the club.

The 56-year-old saw his side held to a goalless draw in his opening game back at St James’ Park as Bolton spoiled his homecoming, and then had the misfortune to travel to Arsenal twice inside four days with predictable results.

However, Keegan and his players return to familiar territory tomorrow for the Tyne-Tees derby clash with Middlesbrough desperate to end a run of seven Barclays Premier League games without a win and having failed to score a league goal in 395 minutes of football.

Owen’s personal drought extends to three games in all competitions, and almost four months in the top flight, although injuries and a lack of service have played their part.

Keegan has made it his mission this week to address the collective failure to give the 28-year-old the ammunition he needs, and is hoping it pays dividends.

He said: “Yes, Michael needs a goal – all strikers need goals – but we need to start supplying him with chances.

“If you are a forward, you need three or four chances every game, and then you will take the knocks if people start saying you are not scoring goals.

“In reality, in the three games for which I have been in charge, I can honestly say we haven’t provided him with any good opportunities.

“He’s had a quarter-chance, maybe one half-chance at Arsenal. In three games, that’s not enough and we are trying to address it – that’s what we have been about this week.

“Give those guys opportunities – look at Michael Owen’s goal record for England. He doesn’t have to prove anything to anybody.

“Newcastle fans know if we provide him with chances, he will score goals because that what he is about. That’s what he has always done and that’s what he will continue to do until the day he hangs his boots up.”

Owen’s prospects may have been improved by Mark Viduka’s return from a calf problem, while Emre’s availability following a three-match ban is also a boost.

However, no-one at St James’ is under any illusion that the points total has to start ticking over once again if the club are to avoid being dragged into the scrap for survival below them, something to which goalkeeper Shay Given pointed this week.

Keegan is in full agreement with the Republic of Ireland international, and is looking for a big response from his players.

He said: “You have got to be honest and say Sunday is a big game. It’s whether you are going to get sucked into it or not, that’s the challenge.

“Shay is right in his assessment – it’s spot-on. There are two ways you can look at it: we put a run together and start looking up, or we start looking down, and we don’t want that.”