Source: Telegraph
Newcastle's Michael Owen backed to safeguard Alan Shearer's rescue bid
Lee is convinced that thanks to the presence of the likes of Owen and Obafemi Martins, Shearer has the firepower at his disposal to safeguard the relegation-threatened club's Premier League status.[LNB]"You need your big players in this sort of scenario and they don't get much bigger than Michael Owen who has played in World Cups finals, Cup finals and big, big games," Lee told Telegraph Sport.[LNB] Related ArticlesPremier League team newsShearer impressed by CarrollShearer raises Newcastle barShearer rolls back the yearsNewcastles Premier League run-inMichael Owen is good enough for England, says Peter Beardsley"Michael has been under pressure all his career but he's always come up with the goods. He's very experienced and a very good player. Stoke, Middlesbrough, West Brom and Hull haven't got a natural goal-scorer like Michael Owen.[LNB]"Michael a natural goal-scorer and there are not many people like that - especially at the bottom of the Premier League - and that could ultimately prove crucial." [LNB]"He can play badly but still score. He's not like Wayne Rooney or Cristiano Ronaldo who can beat three or four players but the bottom line is that he will convert most of the chances that come his way.[LNB]"He has had quite a few injuries but Alan Shearer had quite a few injuries as well but he always came back. He's only 29. It's been tough for him at Newcastle. He's still a very good player and his goals record at Newcastle is one in two." [LNB]As well as Owen, Shearer can call on Martins at Stoke on Saturday and Mark Viduka, is also closing in on a return to fitness following an ankle problem which give Lee hope that relegation can be averted.[LNB]"They let an awful lot of goals in and always will but what Newcastle have got that other teams haven't got at the bottom," Lee added.[LNB]"And that is players who will score goals. It might take Michael Owen a couple of games to get back to his best after injury but he will score the goals to keep them up." [LNB]Lee who played more than 300 times for Newcastle and earned 21 England caps is sure Owen will return to international football.[LNB]"I still think Michael Owen is the best striker at Newcastle and good enough to be in the England squad," Lee, 43, added.[LNB]"His goals record speaks for itself but he has been playing in a poor team. Give Michael Owen the right service and he will score goals. He needs service. I do not think we've seen the last of him in international terms – definitely not." [LNB]
