Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Sam expects Owen to stay

14 Dec 2007 - 11:46:35

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Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce expects Michael Owen to still be at the club when the transfer window closes at the end of January.

The injury-plagued England striker is continually linked with a move away from St James' Park whenever a transfer window looms on the horizon.

However, Allardyce believes the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker will remain with the Magpies despite fresh speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City.

Owen is currently sidelined with a thigh muscle injury picked up on England duty, but is expected to be back in action during the busy festive period.

"It is December, it is speculation time," admitted Allardyce.

"It is volatile in terms of what is being bandied about throughout the whole of the media world in football.

"The speculation goes with agents or anybody ringing you up for whatever reason and mentioning or talking about one particular player, and straight away you are either going to buy him or another rumour comes around, and all of a sudden, you are selling.

"Certainly at this moment in time, my squad coming to January is going to be depleted by four players going to the African Nations Cup, and there is no room for me moving any players out of this football club.

"It is about, if anything, bringing some players in to bolster the squad, not just for the players who are missing for the African Nations, but hopefully, if it is there, to get us better to see us through this season."