Kinnear urges Owen action

Interim manager Joe Kinnear has urged Newcastle United to pull out all the stops in an attempt to keep Michael Owen at St James' Park.

Owen, 28, is out of contract at the end of the current season and therefore able to talk to other clubs regarding a free transfer move from January.

The England striker has battled a series of injury problems during his three years on Tyneside but has found the net five times in eight appearances for the Magpies this season.

Owen has yet to agree terms on a new contract with the club despite holding preliminary talks during former manager Kevin Keegan's reign, but Kinnear believes losing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid marksman would be a serious mistake.

"It's better that this club has Michael and players like him because it's a big club and he's a big player," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I'm not privy to what any of the players are earning, what their contracts are, or who they've last spoken to.

"I would think it would cost a lot of money to replace Michael. I haven't given it any thought because I would have thought I could be gone by January.