LONDON (AFP) - England striker Michael Owen scored his first Newcastle goal for more than 18 months as Sam Allardyce enjoyed a winning start to his new reign as coach of the English Premiership side on Tuesday.

Owen was on target in the 58th minute of the 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Hartlepool for his first club goal since hitting a hat-trick against West Ham in December, 2005.

Shola Ameobi scored Newcastle's other goals.

Owen, 27, has been dogged by injury since his move from Real Madrid two years ago.

He has played just 14 league and cup games and scored seven goals for the Magpies since arriving on Tyneside and the knee injury he suffered at last summer's World Cup finals meant he played in just the last three games of the 2006-07 league campaign.