Keegan gives Owen England backing

Owen yesterday backtracked in his criticism of Capello, after saying he was not sure what his role was supposed to be when being used as a second-half substitute against France on Wednesday night.

Keegan: Would have Owen starting for England

Keegan, however, was more forthright and said: 'Michael has scored 40 goals for England and he has come and trained fantastically today.

'I and my staff feel he is playing so well that it is hard to understand why he can't get in an England side.

'We will have to see what happens but his scoring record is tremendous, his leadership is important and he plays a key role for us. I couldn't ask for any more.

'I've asked him to do a different job because of the personnel we have at the moment in terms of the squad and the fit players who are available.

'Michael has had to play a slightly different role but he has never once said this is not what I'm about. He's just said: "Yeah, I'll do it".

'Has he lost a yard of pace through injury? I think the opposite and everything I've said has been the opposite to the criticism Michael gets.'

Owen said: 'I'm a team player and I can only answer the questions as I see them. If I was asked the same question again — what is your role under the new manager in the future, I would say again that you're best asking him.

'Only he knows the formations and personnel he wants to use. All I can do is my best for Newcastle and, if I'm selected, for England. I'd answer the question exactly the same way but obviously it has been misconstrued. I'm not one to throw my toys out of the pram.'

Meanwhile, Newcastle coach Chris Hughton returns to White Hart Lane tomorrow for the first time since being dismissed along with manager Martin Jol in October and is keen to dismiss the notion that the squad he left to Juande Ramos were unfit.

He said: 'Fitness was never a question when things were going well. It's a question asked when a new manager comes in and maybe there's an upturn in performance and it's often put down to fitness.

'I just think it was a change of circumstances, a change in confidence, but certainly in terms of fitness Martin was very, very thorough.'