 MICHAEL Owen will attempt to persuade Sam Allardyce to pick him for the second time in four days this weekend after Newcastle’s revitalised striker insisted he is fit enough to start tomorrow’s Premier League fixture against Wigan. And with Obafemi Martins pressing hard for a recall, the St James’s Park boss will have a major selection decision to make as he formulates his plan during this morning’s final pre-match training session. A manager who remains determined to strengthen his defence before tonight’s transfer deadline has got an altogether different problem to solve in attack, having seen Owen and Martins both find the net during Wednesday’s Carling Cup second-round win against Barnsley. Martins was on the substitutes’ bench as Owen started for the first time in Newcastle colours this season. With the fit-again forward adamant his well-documented injury problems are behind him, it remains to be seen what Allardyce will do to keep the pair satisfied. Allardyce has admitted that Owen’s participation against Wigan cannot be assured, although having scored his first United goal in 20 months against Simon Davey’s side, a player whose confidence has been restored is determined to retain his place in the club’s starting XI. “I would love to be in the starting line-up against Wigan, but ultimately it will be up to the manager,” explained a striker who knows that Mark Viduka is almost certain to return this weekend, having been rested during his team’s midweek match. “I just hope that I’ve given him a nudge to say I’m ready to play as much as I possibly can for Newcastle and that I’m ready to give the club the best I can offer.” When asked whether he was desperate to start against Chris Hutchings’ side, Owen admitted: “Yes, but I think everyone wants to be in the team. The manager has put me on the bench for a couple of games (prior to Barnsley’s visit), maybe he thought that I was missing match fitness following the thigh problem I had but since then I’ve trained fine and I’ve been feeling fine. I played most of the (Carling Cup) game and I was still feeling strong towards the end. We’ll just have to see what he does.” It remains to be seen whether Owen and Martins can form an effective partnership and, with Viduka and James Milner both expected to return against Wigan, Allardyce has got a considerable dilemma on his hands. Martins’ three goals makes the Nigerian international Newcastle’s leading scorer this season, but Owen is adamant the trademark finish that dashed Barnsley’s Carling Cup dreams has proved that his touch has returned and that his condition cannot be questioned. “I’ve been fit for a while,” he insisted. “I’ve worked as hard as anyone and I haven’t missed a lot of training sessions or matches. I’ve had this thigh problem that lasted about two-and-a-half weeks but that’s all that there has been. My fitness results were as good as anyone else’s in pre-season and I didn’t stop working, I trained throughout the summer. It has been quite a while since I felt ‘not match fit’ and I feel fine, I feel sharp. “Had it not been for the small thigh problem, it would have been a long time since I had a problem. It knocked me back a little but it was nothing. You don’t lose six months of hard graft in the space of two weeks. I’ve been lying dormant for ages but I’m fit and fine and looking forward to the rest of the season. “I’m back in the fold, playing and scoring, and I just want to continue that over the coming months.I’m fit enough and have been for six months so there are no question marks in my head. I’ve worked hard and I’m looking forward to the future, hopefully injury-free.” Owen’s goal against Barnsley was his first in a Newcastle shirt since December 17, 2005, although he last night insisted he had had no doubts that he would rediscover his scoring touch. “I wouldn’t say the feeling was relief,” he added. “I don’t go into games thinking, ‘Oh no, I’ve not scored for 20 months’ or anything like that. It makes good headlines, but it doesn’t mean anything because I’ve been injured for 19 of those months. It was nice to get it out of the way, but it’s always nice to score goals. That’s what I’m paid to do. Everyone knows that if I’m playing, I’ll score goals. I just want to keep it going.” With renewed competition for striking places at St James’s Park, Shola Ameobi’s future has been called into question and The Journal understands that Middlesbrough have this week enquired about the 25-year-old. Gareth Southgate is keen to improve his attacking options following Ayegbeni Yakubu’s move to Everton and Riverside officials have asked whether Ameobi might be available for transfer. Boro are not expected to be encouraged to pursue their interest so close to the deadline, though, with Allardyce keen to retain four frontline forwards in his first-team squad. Meanwhile, Viduka’s international future remains undecided after the Magpies striker was left out of Australia’s squad to play Argentina in Melbourne on September 11. There was speculation the former Leeds United, Celtic and Middlesbrough forward would retire from international football after the Asia Cup. In naming his squad, which includes Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, coach Graham Arnold admitted he does not know if he will have Viduka available to him again. “Mark’s doing extremely well at Newcastle, he scored a great goal on the weekend against Middlesbrough,” he said. “Mark’s been in fantastic form, but he’s still deciding his future.” Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers centre-back Abdoulaye Faye and his Senegalese compatriot Habib Beye are yet to complete their expected moves to United. Allardyce will be hoping to tie up the signatures of both today. | 
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