Keegan supports Barton, Owen

Kevin Keegan has shown his support for under fire midfielder Joey Barton and Michael Owen - who recalled his time playing for England and Keegan as 'the worst of his career'.

"I was pretty shocked at what he wrote and you have to ask yourself why did he think that?" Keegan said. "I love Michael Owen both as a person and more importantly in this situation as a player and what I want to do now is to build up a better relationship than obviously he felt we had last time.

"I never felt like that and it was a shock for me but things get written and things get said and they won't change in any way at all how I feel about Michael. I am delighted that he is here at Newcastle and one of the reasons I am so excited is that Michael Owen is at this club.

He added: "I don't think that Michael Owen would have come to this club if he didn't think that this was a big club. He's a big player; he's a great player with a great record of goal-scoring.

"I haven't read the book but I've read that part because it was put in the paper the other day. I think he is entitled to his opinion. I am looking forward to working with him. I don't have problem with that."

"I know Joey," Keegan added. "I've had him at Manchester City since he was 16 or 17 and I used to go and watch him in the juniors. The one thing I can say is that I can't control what's gone on before, and I can't control what's going to happen in a courtroom or anything like that.

"What I told him yesterday is that as a Newcastle United player I will support him 100 per cent and I will help him in whatever way I can. He has openly said that he needs help. The best people to help him are the people that know him and we know him."