Newcastle United boss Kevin Keegan is ready to persist with his latest big tactical gamble - Michael Owen the midfielder!

KK said: "I don't see reason to change too much when something's working. In training he naturally comes deep. We kept seeing it and thought 'Wow, this guy can link us up all day long'.

"I said to him after the Birmingham game 'If you want, you can play until you're 36 or 37 as a midfield player'. Just give him the ball, he's not going to give it away. And he agreed.

"Those sort of players are priceless. I can find plenty who you can give the ball and they give it away. There are thousands.

"I remember Johan Cruyff saying to me once 'When I'm playing well, Johan Neeskens is the soldier and I'm the general. But if I have a day when I feel I'm not playing well, I say to Johan you be the general and I'll be the soldier'.

"Michael has been both a general and a soldier for us since I've been here. I think you're seeing him now absolutely at his peak after his injury. He's playing a bit deeper, still getting chances and scoring goals."