Michael Owen decision tough for Kinnear
Nov 20 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
JOE Kinnear admits he will have to make his toughest decision since he became Newcastle United manager as he struggles to decide whether to start with Michael Owen at Chelsea on Saturday.
Owen came off the bench to score against Wigan last weekend and the club’s record signing, who has scored goals in 11 appearances this season, is itching to return to the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge following his recovery from a groin strain.
Kinnear has had to frustrate his star player in the last two weeks as he did not believe he was fully fit, a tough call helped by the performances of Shola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins.
But that is expected to change this weekend and Kinnear acknowledged there is only so long Owen will be content to warm the bench as he declared things will get even tricker for him as both Mark Viduka and Alan Smith step up their recovery from long-term injuries.
He said: “We have got three excellent strikers available for the trip to Chelsea and I’ve got a very difficult decision to make. Michael Owen is almost 100% fit and he came off the bench (against Wigan), scored and made life very tough for me in terms of the team I select to play against Chelsea.
“He answered us in the best possible way with the goal he scored, and he looked sharp when he came on for those 20 minutes. I’ve got to weigh up in my own mind what to do at Chelsea because it’s a tough place to go.
“Michael definitely has a chance of starting the game, he is pushing hard for that with his work in training. We will have to see how he is at the end of the week. I’d like to have him in the starting line up, but I won’t take any risks with his fitness.
“That is what I’m paid to do, make these decisions. I left Michael on the bench last weekend and I’ve been hammered for it in the media, but I’ve never been frightened to make tough calls if I think that’s what’s best for the team.
“Regardless of what people outside of the club might be saying, there is no problem between me and Michael and it annoys me that people are trying to drive a wedge between us.”
Given the quality of his attacking options, Kinnear could even decide
to play all three forwards against Chelsea, but he warned that might be a dangerous strategy against a side as rampant on home soil as Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.
He said: “I’m going to have to earn my money at Chelsea. We could go into it with three strikers, but that is risky against a world-class team like Chelsea who pass the ball around for fun.
“Don’t forget, Sunderland went there recently and got beaten 5-0 so we can’t go there and be too open. It’s a balancing act, we don’t want to be too negative either, that’s not my style.
“Shola Ameobi and Obafemi Martins have done very well for me since I came to the club, but Michael is the best player we have when he’s fully fit. He is world class and. as far as I’m concerned, it is only a matter of time before he is back in the England squad.
“The only thing keeping him out at the moment is fitness and I’m sure once he has had a run of games and proven he is sharp and strong, Fabio Capello will recall him.”
Kinnear was delighted to welcome Viduka back into full training this week and hopes Smith will not be too far behind him following an operation on his ankle.
He added: “It’s great to have Mark Viduka around the place again, but there is no way he will be involved against Chelsea. We’ve waited for so long for him to come back, it would be ludicrous to rush him straight into the side when he isn’t match fit yet. He’s not too far away, but we have to be patient, it’ll be another couple of weeks yet I’d imagine.
“I’m actually spoilt for choice with the strikers really, particularly now we are getting key players like Michael and Mark back. I haven’t forgotten about Alan Smith either who is another quality player in that department.
“He’s probably another six weeks away yet, but hopefully we’ll see him in a Newcastle shirt again before the end of the year.”
JOSE Enrique insists he will remain a Newcastle player even if the club has plans to sell him.
Enrique was touted as a long-term solution to Newcastle’s defensive problems when he was signed by then Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce for £6.3m last August.
The Spain Under-21s left-back has made six starts for the club this term and media reports suggested he could be off-loaded by Newcastle interim manager Joe Kinnear in the January transfer window. Enrique, however said: “I want to complete my contract.
“It doesn’t bother me if they want to get rid of me. I have still got a few years left and I want to play an important part in getting the team back to where it deserves to be.”
