Sunday Mar 23 2008 06:30
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan heaped praise on his skipper Michael Owen, after the England striker scored a late clincher in the 2-0 win at home to Fulham.
The Magpies clinched a first victory since Keegan's much-heralded return to the club and eased their fears of being dragged into an unwanted relegation battle.
Afterwards, Keegan said: "People keep questioning all sorts of things with these great players, but they can answer them.
"Michael probably answered a few critics again today and there are plenty out there from what I am seeing. But the players always get the chance to do that on the football field.
"People can write what they want, but as a journalist you have got to sit there and write what you see and today you saw someone totally committed.
"He has led this team fantastically. He is a great skipper, not because of all the things he shouts, but because of the example he shows. He is a team player.
"What he needs is to be at a club which is successful and scores goals. Today, he is at a club that has been successful on the day and he has scored a goal.
"He is definitely in form. This idea that Michael is not as sharp as he was has been dispelled this week.
"Michael will just keep doing what he does. By all means criticise when they are not doing well, but praise them when they are."
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