KEVIN Keegan admits he's baffled at the way Michael Owen has been snubbed by Fabio Capello.
And while predicting it's only a matter of time before his skipper forces his way back into the uncompromising Italian's plans, Keegan is happy to reap the benefits of Owen's international frustrations, insisting that England's loss is Newcastle's gain.
Owen will look to build on back-to-back Premier League strikes at Tottenham tomorrow, having been far from exerted by his 45 minute run-out in the midweek friendly defeat by France, his first taste of action in Capello's first two games in charge.
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Keegan said: "Michael's playing so well that it's hard to understand why he can't get in an England side. You'd have to ask Mr Capello, but I thought maybe he'd get a start because he's been in very good form for us.
"He looks like he's got all the confidence that playing games and scoring goals brings because his goals-per-game record for Newcastle is incredible, I think it's just under one every two games."
Keegan is confident that Capello will turn to Owen when the serious business of World Cup qualification starts later this year, and he added: "With an England squad there are 24 guys and a great deal of quality to pick from, but when push comes to shove and in the important games coming up that matter, I think Michael will be playing.
"I'm not going to get dragged into the England thing, I'm only interested in Newcastle United, but I suppose from a bonus point of view, if players don't play, they don't get injured."
Owen has hit eight goals in 26 Newcastle appearances this season after finally putting his persistent injury worries behind him. An addition to that tally could go a long way to helping ease any lingering relegation fears as he returns to White Hart Lane for the first time since suffering a serious metatarsal injury there in 2005.
The critics have been quick to get on Owen's back despite his recent upturn in form, and Keegan added: "Michael's done well while I've been here but he's had a lot of criticism.
"That's something that you have to carry as a big-name player with England at the moment. If it wasn't Michael it would be someone else. Fortunately for Michael, he's a very strong character and when I say it doesn't seem to bother him I don't think it does.
"If it does he certainly doesn't show it. He just gets on with it, he doesn't answer back. He's a model professional and he lets his football do the talking. At the moment at Newcastle his football is talking pretty well."
Keegan also revealed Owen's understated, often unseen work as skipper in passing on his wealth of experience to his Newcastle team-mates.
He added: "As skipper, his leadership for us is important and he plays a key role.
"I've asked him to do a different job for us on the pitch because it's the best way for Newcastle to play and Michael has had to play a slightly different role, but he's never once said 'this is not what I'm about'. He just says 'yeah, I'll do it'. Again, that's leadership and it's what you want from your top players. Michael's role is absolutely vital to us and it will be again at Spurs.
"His style of leadership is not one for shouting from the rooftops and banging a drum he just quietly goes round and talks to players and then gets on the field and shows them by his example. I don't think any manager could ask for any more than that."
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