Source: Daily_Mail
Shot-shy striker Owen won't be dropped as Newcastle fight to maintain top-flight status
Certain starter: Owen will face Pompey[LNB]Alan Shearer will not drop Michael Owen for Newcastle's fight against the drop. [LNB]The revelation that the caretaker manager will stand by his former strike partner and close friend, who he helped persuade join the club, will hardly come as a surprise. [LNB]But Shearer's assistant Iain Dowie has revealed that the out-of-sorts Newcastle captain will start against Portsmouth in their must-win clash on Monday night. [LNB]Owen has not scored in the five games since his latest return from injury and statistics from Sunday's defeat at Tottenham revealed he managed to get in to the hosts' penalty area on only two occasions during the 90 minutes in front of England boss Fabio Capello. [LNB]But Dowie insisted: 'Michael's goal record stands up to scrutiny with anybody. He is used to this. People only talk about him when he doesn't score. [LNB]'We didn't get a lot of opportunities in the game at Tottenham, apart from the one from Obafemi Martins in the closing stages. [LNB]'Michael has worked his socks off in all three games we've played. His work-rate is fantastic and he has covered so much ground. [LNB]'He's doing all the things that are right and one thing is certain - if chances come his way, he scores.' [LNB]Owen remains Newcastle's top scorer this season with 10 goals but Shearer now has all his strikers fit with Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Alan Smith, Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi all fighting for a start, and youngster Nile Ranger joining the first-team squad since Shearer's arrival. [LNB]Last season Kevin Keegan used Owen behind Viduka and Martins to guide the club to safety and Shearer may be tempted to turn to the injury-prone trio again for the final five matches of the season. [LNB] EXCLUSIVE: Local hero Taylor sets his sights on Newcastle's derby clash with Middlesbrough Best of the best: Sportsmail recalls the greatest matches in the history of football2008/09 sack race - the full list of managerial departures this seasonToon boss Shearer demands better ammunition to fire Newcastle to safetyBarton set for Newcastle return in crucial clash against PortsmouthShearer gets personal as Newcastle plan escape route against PortsmouthFox in the box? Fed-up Owen won't score many more playing like thisNORTHERN EXPOSURE: Sofa so bad for Newcastle boss Shearer as Sunderland fans see the funny sideNEWCASTLE UNITED FC
