Source: SKY_Sports
Shearer - Owen still the man
Newcastle manager Alan Shearer maintains that under-pressure striker Michael Owen is the man to fire the club away from danger at the bottom of the Premier League. Owen, 29, was expected to enjoy a fruitful end to the season following the arrival of Shearer, an off-field friend from their time playing up front together for Newcastle and England, on an eight-game basis at the beginning of April.But the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player has failed to score in his last eight games for the relegation-threatened club, with critics questioning his fitness and suggesting he should be axed from the first XI.Shearer, though, insists that the forward will continue to lead the Newcastle line against fellow strugglers Portsmouth at St James' Park on Monday night. "When you are a centre-forward and you haven't scored goals you are going to get criticised. I know that, he knows that," Shearer told Sky Sports News. Concern"It has happened before and it will happen again. He can handle that."We know that if we create chances, Michael will be there and Michael will score goals."It has been a concern because we have not created enough in the three games I have been involved in and that is something we need to change on Monday."Meanwhile, Shearer has told his flailing squad, who lost 1-0 at Tottenham last weekend, that they need to win their three remaining home games in order to save their top-flight skins.After hosting Pompey, the 19th-placed Magpies welcome fierce North-East rivals, and neighbouring occupants of the relegation zone, Middlesbrough and Fulham to Tyneside.Survival targetAnd following a meeting with his players at the club's Benton training ground, Shearer - who has yet to record a victory during his short-term reign - has targeted a minimum of nine points for survival. "I got the players in on Monday and told them that whatever has gone on has gone on. We want everyone in a buoyant mood, happy and smiling," he added."The response to that has been good. I also said that if we had got a point and Spurs, it would have been a very good point."But even if that was the case we would still need to win the remaining three home games, and that hasn't changed."I believe that if we were to win three more games this season, that might be enough. Might not either."But I am hopeful we can do that. Whatever happens elsewhere, happens. If we win our games, then great."