Kinnear rubbishes Owen talk

Newcastle stand in manager Joe Kinnear has revealed he had a chat with Michael Owen after there were reports in the media about a potential move for the forward to Chelsea. Kinnear has rubbished the link and insisted Owen is happy at the club.

"I have spoken to Michael about it today, he's bewildered himself where this stuff comes from. He just doesn't know," Kinnear told a Sky Sports reporter.

"Of course we want to keep our best players, and I have made that known to Michael.

"He is a top class player but he knows himself that the fitness level that he's at at present is not what it should be but that does not mean to say that if I put him on with a half an hour to go that he's not going to score you goals.

"He's probably the best finisher at the club, no question about that, but it's the fitness level."