Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Magpies fear Owen departure

13 Dec 2008 - 09:46:09

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Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has admitted that he has serious doubts over whether England striker Michael Owen will sign a new contract with the Magpies.

Owen's current deal runs out at the end of the season, with talks over a new contract having stalled in recent times amid uncertainty about the club's ownership.

Kinnear commented: "I'm not confident, to be honest. I'm going to sit down with Michael on Tuesday.

"I'm pretty confident about everyone else, but Michael is a different kettle of fish.

"He is looking at his options, I assume, but I won't go into those details until Tuesday.

"We have heard lots of things, that Michael's agent has had lots of clubs on to him.

"Obviously, they will want to know what type of contract we are going to offer him.

"I won't go into those details now, but we will be offering him what we consider an excellent contract considering the climate of what is happening around all football clubs.

"But it will be up to Michael to make that decision."

Owen, 29, moved to St James' Park from Real Madrid in the summer of 2005 and has scored 28 goals in 61 appearances for the Tynesiders.