Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan has paid tribute to the goalscoring instincts of Michael Owen but intends to continue using him in a deeper role in midfield.
Owen scored his third goal in as many club games as Newcastle stormed to a 4-1
victory at Tottenham on Sunday, taking them within sight of Premier
League survival.
In his most advanced positions at White Hart Lane, Owen was a support striker
for Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka, and when Spurs had the ball he dropped back
to help his midfield.
'It is his position at Newcastle for the time being,' Keegan said. 'I said,
'this is the position you have to play in this football club because that is
where you are most use for us' - and he said 'that's fine'.
'He never came up to me and said 'I'm a forward'. I think he's enjoyed it.'
Owen has not started an England match under Fabio Capello yet but Keegan
added: 'I think when the big games come Michael Owen will play.
'Fabio Capello needs asking why he hasn't played Michael because only he
knows the answer.'
Owen's goal against Spurs effectively sealed the points after Newcastle had
come from a goal behind to take the lead.
Darren Bent opened the scoring for the hosts but Nicky Butt and Geremi scored
either side of the break before Owen struck.
Martins then grabbed a fourth with eight minutes left to send the Newcastle
fans home jubilant.
The difference between them and the relegation zone is now nine points - the
same gap separating them from West Ham in the top half.
'We're definitely not safe yet but we can look up not down,' Keegan said.
'We could catch Spurs up and we could catch up West Ham. People would have said
that was ridiculous a few weeks ago.
'We have three home games and three away left and playing like this, I think
the players will look forward to playing anybody.'
Keegan has vowed to continue with his attacking philosophy that has brought
back-to-back wins after two months trying to break his duck.
'This is the right way to play with the players and fixtures we've got,' he
said.
'You look at our defensive record and to try to defend puts pressure on your
defenders. They know that maybe they can concede a goal and have enough to win.
'It could have been seven or eight - (Paul) Robinson has made terrific saves,
we've hit the bar and Michael Owen's missed a chance he would normally score.'
Spurs head coach Juande Ramos, meanwhile, is assessing the attitude of his
players for the rest of the season, with European qualification secured already
by winning the Carling Cup.
'We're at a phase of the season that is not quite so important, so it's a
chance to look at players and see the squad and make decisions for next
season,' said the Spaniard.
