Jubilant Newcastle United fans today reacted with glee to Michael Owen's move to Tyneside. As the 25-year-old goal sensation agreed to make the switch to the Toon, supporters could not contain their excitement. Mark Jensen, editor of The Mag fanzine, said he was looking forward to seeing the Chester-born striker in a black and white shirt. He added: "I think it's a relief that we have got him. Everybody knows Newcastle's situation - four games, no goals and one point. "As much as we need players in, we needed a really big personality for everybody to unite behind like Alan Shearer. "Michael Owen is somebody who we can build a team around like Alan Shearer. If we can get the ball to him he can get 20 goals a season. "The bottom line is Newcastle United, who finished 14th in the table, have signed England's forward. "I think it's a great tribute to the Newcastle fans. If there was not 50,000 turning up each game, would the club have attracted him? "Would Michael Owen have come to a half-empty ground and could the club have taken the risk in buying him then?" Marion Williams, of the Newcastle United Fans' Forum, said: "When he said he would only come here on loan I thought 'well go to Liverpool then'. "But I think if he wants to play for England then he has his own reasons to play. He has been here to talk to the characters so he must get on with them. "On balance, it's terrific. "Freddy Shepherd said we would be surprised and I am. He has come up with the goods. What we have lacked in every single game is any hope of somebody scoring. "I really feel for Boumsong but I would not blame just him because we did not look like scoring on Sunday. But Owen is a goalscorer. "I just can't believe he won't put some goals away. That's what we need, Shearer has got somebody to work with." Steve Wraith, editor of Players Incorporated magazine, said: "Michael Owen is a fantastic signing for Newcastle - great for the club and it's great credit to Freddy Shepherd for pulling it off. "This is a signing which will save Souness's job and Newcastle's season and it will give Alan Shearer a new lease of life. "This is as big as the signings of Kevin Keegan and Shearer and I hope Owen follows in Supermac's footsteps and scores a hat-trick on his debut against Fulham. "We haven't scored a goal this season and we definitely owe Fulham more than one!" Less than an hour after news of Owen's signing broke, shares in Newcastle United plc rose by half a penny to 58p.
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