I'll help Michael find the net - Emre

Feb 7 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

EMRE believes he and Newcastle United can help Michael Owen regain his reputation as one of Europe’s finest goalscorers after the striker was dropped from England’s starting line-up for the first time in almost eight years last night.

New coach Fabio Capello punished Owen – who was last left on the bench when fit for a Three Lions game when Kevin Keegan was still in charge of the national team in September 2000 – for his lack of goals by leaving him out of his first starting XI.

The Italian selected to play with a lone striker – Wayne Rooney – with Owen failing even to get on as a substitute in the 2-1 win over Switzerland.

Owen scored on his last appearance for the Magpies in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough on Sunday and looked sharp, but that was not enough for Capello to believe that the former Real Madrid and Liverpool star is still an automatic choice at international level. The 27-year-old forward has only managed five goals in 20 appearances for Newcastle this season, two of which came against lower-division opponents Barnsley and Stoke City in the Carling and FA Cups.

Owen was easily controlled by Arsenal’s defence during the Magpies’ recent 3-0 defeats at the Emirates Stadium and Capello, who watched both games, was clearly unimpressed.

However, United’s most creative player Emre, who has been assured of a vital role in Keegan’s new look side, is adamant all Owen has been lacking is decent service. Owen’s last two Premier League goals, against Everton back in October and against Boro last weekend, were both supplied by the Turkish midfielder.

“Michael Owen is a big player for us, one of the best strikers in Europe, but he has struggled to score goals in recent weeks because the service has not been there for him,” said Emre, who will once again start in the centre of midfield against Aston Villa on Saturday.

“We know he will score goals if we give him the chances, but it was tough against Arsenal to create anything. When we create chances he scores them and he is always someone you know will get on the end of things if you can make a good delivery.

“I’ve always tried to create chances. It is one of the things I can hopefully bring to the side, that is what the manager has told me. I’ve not started many games this season, but I’ve already got seven

assists and I think Michael has been on the end of a lot of those. I hope I can help him find his best form because we need his goals.”

Keegan is determined to give Emre a prominent place in the team between now and the end of the season to see if the former Inter Milan play-maker can fulfil the creative role he needs in his team.

Keegan had tried to sign Emre when he was still at the San Siro, and he was manager of Manchester City. As a result, the presence of the 27-year-old in the squad he inherited from Sam Allardyce was a major plus point for him.

In turn, Emre – who won his 52nd cap for Turkey in their goalless friendly draw with Sweden in Istanbul last night – has admitted the arrival of Keegan as manager has convinced him that he could even end his career at St James’s Park because he is so settled in the North-East.

He explained: “I’ve always been happy living in England, I just wanted to play more under Sam Allardyce. The next three months are very important because I want to prove that I should still be here next season and that the new manager can rely on me.

“I feel as though I’m an ambassador for my country here and I have been made to feel very welcome. I have a friend who runs a very good Turkish restaurant in Newcastle where I go often, but I also have a lot of friends in the Turkish community across the region.

“It has helped me settle well and I don’t want to leave, I’ve never said anything about wanting to leave.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Keegan will be answering fans’ questions and talking to host Mick Lowes on BBC Radio Newcastle tonight between 6-8pm.