Keegan pushes for new contract for Magpies striker Owen

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Owen's current deal expires at the end of next season but Keegan believes it is essential to the Magpies' future to secure the England international's services in the longer term.

"I've already started to say we should be talking to Michael now, not next week," said Keegan, who enjoyed his first victory since returning for a second spell as manager in January after Owen and Mark Viduka scored in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Fulham.

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Michael Owen celebrates after scoring against Fulham and helping Newcastle to their first win under Kevin Keegan

"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."