Owen - Comeback game crucial

Michael Owen has described next weekend's Premier League match against Hull City as Newcastle's 'cup final'. Owen is expected to return to action at the KC Stadium after undergoing minor groin surgery last month.He admits it is a vital game for Newcastle, who are currently one point above the relegation zone following Wednesday's 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United."The game at Hull City on Saturday week is at the moment shaping up to be our cup final - and the other games against teams around us, Stoke City, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough, could also be crucial," Owen told the club's official website."We've got some tough games coming up, yes, but we've also got some very winnable games - games which, if we do win them, will put our biggest rivals in trouble."While the Magpies face Arsenal and Chelsea in their next two matches at St James' Park, Owen is confident of avoiding the drop.Newcastle enjoyed a strong finish to last season and Owen has called for the same again. He said: "There's no denying that we're in the middle of the relegation scrap, but myself and the lads have no doubt in our minds that we have enough quality to pull clear."However, this is now the time when we have to stand up and be counted - just like we did last year, when we put together a very good seven-match unbeaten run."That sort of sequence is well within our capabilities, and while we have some tough home fixtures in a row, which started against Manchester United and continues with Arsenal and Chelsea, it is the other games against teams around us that are going to be most significant."

Source: SKY_Sports