Owen settles Kevin's wants - We must keep Michael insists boss

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan has urged his board to secure Michael Owen with a new, improved long-term deal before time runs out. Owen is out of contract at the end of next season and talks have yet to start between the England striker, his advisers and the club's hierarchy who, thus far, have shown no rush to negotiate.

But the man installed as captain by Keegan is finally back to full fitness — his run of 13 games his best in more than three years — and he is even relishing a new role in a three-man strike force with Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins.

After watching the striker notch his eighth goal, and his second in two games, to kill off an unlikely late Fulham comeback and secure Keegan's first win since returning to the club, the manager revealed his desire to keep Owen.

Whether owner Mike Ashley, chairman Chris Mort and football directors Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez agree has yet to be seen, but their decision will be an intriguing side issue which could put the club's new infrastructure to the test. Keegan wants Owen but does anyone else?

Keegan said: "I've already started to say we should be talking to Michael now, not next week.

But now. Michael's not going to stop scoring, 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.

"He enjoys playing at this club. A lot of the stuff that's been written may suggest otherwise, but nothing Michael has said has been anything other than positive.

"I've never asked Michael if he wants to stay, so I can't answer that, but I hope the answer is yes. If not, we've another year of him and that's the very least we'll get.

"I don't think that we'll get a player any better than Michael, as long as he isn't injured again.

"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 scoring record is tremendous.'

Owen settled his team's nerves with a well-taken headed goal in the 83rd minute after Viduka had put Newcastle in front with a superb early strike.

Keegan added: "I had Michael as England manager and I didn't realise how good he was. When you work with them day in, day out, you see how good they are.

"He doesn't give the ball away, doesn't shirk a challenge and if he misses a chance, he doesn't hide but goes looking for the next one. I made him captain. He leads by example and you're seeing him now absolutely at his peak."

It was Viduka's sixth goal and the Aussie's display proved he can have a massive influence at Newcastle. He was in the Leeds side who were relegated and the horror of the drop makes him determined to help Newcastle to safety.

He said: "I felt this was going to be a solid year, but it hasn't been and there are times when I've thought it might be another Leeds.

"But Kevin is a very positive person and it's been great to be associated with him because he's a great personality and coach."

Fulham, meanwhile, look doomed. Jimmy Bullard peppered Steve Harper's goal with longrange efforts but it was a one-man show from a midfielder who faces a lonely battle against the drop as long as he has ineffective players like Leon Andreasen around him.

Boss Roy Hodgson said: "It's going to be a depressing Easter. This result has cast a major depression over us but it doesn't change anything. We have seven to go and we are still in there."

The France international signed for Spurs from Wigan in 2006 and although Boli insisted his charge was interested in discussing an extended deal at White Hart Lane, he refused to rule out a move elsewhere.

"We expect to discuss a contract extension for Pascal. It all depends on Spurs' directors," he told the Daily Star.

"It's up to them to decide if they want to keep him or not. I'm optimistic on both options.

"The first one would be Pascal being offered a new deal and the second one would see him being transferred by Spurs.

"Newcastle's offer was serious, but they are in a bizarre situation and I don't know if Kevin Keegan will stay at the club next season."