Source: SKY_Sports
Owen hits back at critics
Newcastle striker Michael Owen insists he is too experienced to become distracted by the 'rubbish' speculation surrounding his form. Owen has failed to score in his last eight games as the Magpies, who sit 19th in the Premier League ahead of hosting Portsmouth on Monday, fight against relegation.Despite a lack of full match fitness following an ankle injury, the 29-year-old was immediately restored to Newcastle's team upon the arrival of manager Alan Shearer at the start of April.Shearer has pledged his continued support of his former Newcastle and England team-mate, but detractors have suggested the misfiring forward should be axed from the first XI if the club want to maintain a place in the top flight.Owen, though, is adamant the criticism has not had an impact, saying: "It's nice when people say nice things about you. Opportunity"But regardless, I will wake up in the morning and know where I stand in terms of my performances, my standing in the game, the goals I will score given the opportunities and everything else."I have been around a long time now and everyone knows if I get chances, then I will score goals."Stats are there and people will say eight games and all that. But one of the games, I came off after two minutes, I did my ankle, the next one, I came on for 10 minutes coming back."You can straight away narrow it down to five or six games before you even start."You go on a good scoring run and everyone will twist them into your favour as well.Long in the tooth"I am a bit long in the tooth for all that rubbish, but it (the visit of Portsmouth) is certainly a game that I could do with finding the goalscoring touch."I have always said if I am given the chances, then I am totally confident I will put them away."And Owen is well aware that Newcastle must meet Shearer's target of a hat-trick of wins from their three remaining games at St James' Park, starting with the visit of fellow strugglers Pompey."A few of the teams around us have got tough games and we have got a home game against a team that are in the bottom half as well, so it is a massive game," he told the club's official website."We have to win it and if we do win and we are only a point behind, then I would really fancy our chances."