MICHAEL OWEN hopes his eagerly-anticipated goal against Middlesbrough can help “ignite” Newcastle United’s season and ensure they head into the final straight in style under Kevin Keegan. The diminutive Toon number 10 links up with new England boss Fabio Capello ahead of the friendly with Switzerland on Wednesday with United fans praying he avoids another injury on international duty. Owen spent a stint on the sidelines with a groin problem earlier in the season and injured his thigh in November when England travelled to Austria. But he will hope his days in the treatment room are behind him. Yet despite his injury woes this term, Owen took his goal tally for club and country to eight with his strike against Boro and he hopes that more will follow in United’s last 13 games. He said today: “It gave us a lift to score against Middlesbrough because we hadn’t scored under the new manager. “People say we didn’t score for three games, but let’s not get carried away – we did play Arsenal twice. “It was always going to be difficult in those two games. “We needed a goal to ignite everyone but unfortunately we couldn’t hang on. “This, though, gives us something to work on. “It would be a boost to get that win.” Owen’s goal against Boro was his first since October 7, when he scored in the 3-2 win against Everton. But with the ex-Real Madrid star on target against Stoke in the FA Cup replay, he has scored twice in three games at Gallowgate. Speaking about the pressure surrounding his previous goal drought, he added: “It’s part of my life and my career, I suppose. “I have gone three games without a goal and have been criticised. “Two of those games were away at Arsenal when we lost 3-0 twice, so it’s not like we had a lot of chances. “Three games isn’t a long time – four games is probably a crisis – but it is always nice to score. “It was just frustrating not to win the game.” And it turned out to be doubly frustrating for Owen who had two goals chalked off. Indeed, his first effort was ruled out as ref Mike Dean penalised him for a foul on Mark Schwarzer and a second “goal” was disallowed when Emre’s corner was alleged to have swirled out of play from a corner kick. Owen quipped: “The referee obviously thought it was assault on Mark because he gave the foul. “We were joking afterwards that I have scored more goals that have been disallowed this year than I have scored. “I scored one at Man U that was given offside and it wasn’t. “And then against Middlesbrough, but we aren’t getting the rub of the green. “I hardly touched him. You have to touch him to a certain extent because it is a contact sport. “But I don’t think it was a foul.” And reflecting on the draw with Boro, Owen added: “There’s no doubt that once everyone gets their confidence back we can go far. “If anybody is going to give us that confidence it is this manager. “I am sure that will happen and we will pick up.” | 
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