Keegan said: 

"I've already started to say to the club that we should be talking to  Michael  now about a new contract; not next week, not next month - now.

I've never asked Michael whether he wants to stay. So I can't answer that. You'll have to ask Michael, but I'm hoping the answer will be yes. If not, we've got another year of him next season and that's the very least we'll get. It's an urgent issue because I don't think that, whatever finances are, we'll go out and get a player that's any better than  Michael Owen.

That's the reason I think we should keep him and I think that as long as he doesn't get injured again the Newcastle fans will see a player who'll grow into one of the greats here. That's if we can keep him.

That's what I would want to do. I don't see why we should be looking all over the world for foreign players and trying to teach them how to play in the Premier League when we've got one who knows his way around and whose goal-scoring record is tremendous. I'll do everything I can to keep him."

Owen hinted last week that he wanted to be sure Newcastle would remain in the Premier League next season before he discussed a new contract.

In response Keegan said:

"The time to talk with him is now and that's what I'll be urging the chairman to do. There hasn't been a reaction yet because I only mentioned it last week because I could see this coming. 

Michael 's not going to stop scoring goals, he's not going to stop catching the eye and Michael is going to be wanted by other clubs. But at the moment he's here and it's just something that's come up now. I think Michael would be the first to say that until we sort ourselves out as a team these sort of talks have to be shoved on the back-burner a little bit."

Keegan answered questions as to why Owen had dropped back on the pitch behind Mark Viduka and Martins:

"When you get the experience Michael has under his belt you can play more or less anywhere. Why we've played Michael there is because he's the one player at the club we know can keep the ball, see a pass and knows when to release the ball.

He might get more chances coming from there than standing up against a big man, looking for space. He's enjoying the role. With the players we've got at the moment, it's the best role for the club and that's why he's playing it.

I don't see reason to change too much when something's working. In training he naturally comes deep and does that and we kept seeing it and seeing it and thought ‘wow, this guy can link us up all day long'."

Obafemi Martins on the other hand is still seeking the reassurance he requires of a new contract, after being subbed off in 2 consecutive games. The Nigerian International is said to want to stay at Newcastle but is hesitant in that he wants 1st team football on a regular basis.

He said:

"I am not the kind of player that will stay at the club without playing because I want to play,

I really, really want to play. I really, really want to help the team by scoring goals so, if I am not playing, it's a little bit difficult for me."

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