Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has paid tribute to the goalscoring instincts of Michael Owen. Owen scored his third goal in as many club matches as Newcastle stormed to a 4-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, taking them within sight of Barclays Premier League survival.

In his most advanced positions at White Hart Lane Owen was a support striker for Obafemi Martins and Mark Viduka, and when Spurs had the ball he dropped back to help his midfield.

"It is his position at Newcastle for the time being," Keegan said. "I said, 'this is the position you have to play in this football club because that is where you are most use for us' - and he said 'that's fine'. He never came up to me and said 'I'm a forward'. I think he's enjoyed it."