Michael Owen could prove crucial to survival says Hughton
Mar 11 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
CHRIS Hughton believes Michael Owen’s return to fitness can give Newcastle United a decisive advantage in the battle to avoid relegation.
Owen has trained all this week without any side-effects following his return after an ankle injury, as he prepares to make his comeback against Hull City on Saturday.
And caretaker manager Hughton will name the striker in the squad for the crucial clash with the Tigers knowing his presence will provide a massive psychological boost to the squad.
Having scored at a ratio of roughly a goal every other game when fit at United, Hughton is adamant Owen’s return gives them a potentially vital edge over their rivals at the bottom of the table.
He said: “What you want, particularly at a time like now when we know we’re going into the last phase of the season, you want as many of your big players around the squad as possible and Michael is certainly one of those.
“As our captain, Michael is arguably the biggest of the lot of them. His presence around the squad is always a plus, but to actually have him available to play really is a boost for us going into the Hull game.
“For numerous teams between now and the end of the season, their ability to score goals will be crucial to where they end up.
“Michael isn’t just one of the best strikers in the Premier League, he is one of the best strikers around anywhere. You have to look at his record.
“These have been tough times for
Michael regarding injuries, but the one thing that remains consistent is that, when he plays, he scores goals.
“That’s testimony to the type of player he is.”
Given the likelihood these will be Owen’s final ten games as a Newcastle player before he departs on a Bosman-style free transfer at the end of the season, firing the Tyneside club to safety in front of goal would be the ideal parting gift.
But, while Hughton is delighted to be able to call upon such a world-class talent at such a difficult time in the club’s history, he does not want his St James’s Park team-mates to rely too heavily on the striker’s match-winning ability.
Although Owen’s goals can undoubtedly change games and fortunes, Hughton knows that the striker will also need his colleagues to provide him with the chances to make opposition teams suffer.
Hughton explained: “Anyone would rather have Michael Owen in the squad than not in the squad.
“We want him most definitely because of what he brings to the team.
“But what will bring us the edge over our rivals is the team’s performance on the day.
“For everything Michael is, he’s one of just 11 players, he can’t win games on his own.
“We have to perform well. If Michael is going to score goals he needs someone to provide those goals for him.
“If we give him the ammunition, though, he is one of the best at putting them away.”
Newcastle can not afford to lose at the KC Stadium this coming Saturday, and Hughton believes a positive result against Hull could be a turning point for a Newcastle side which has won just one of its last 12 games in all competitions – and which has already been beaten twice by Phil Brown’s side this season.
He explained: “I remember the Birmingham game very well last season and this is a very similar situation.
“The week before that game (a 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s) we lost to Blackburn Rovers at home 1-0 to a late breakaway goal from a corner.
“But the performance had been very good and I think we’re coming off the back of a good performance against Manchester United this time as well.
“That result at Birmingham kick-started the tail end of our season and hopefully we can do the same sort of thing at Hull. It’s a very big game for all sorts of reasons.
“A win would really give us a lot of impetus going into the end of the season.”
