Newcastle United boss Joe Kinnear admits he is planning for life without Michael Owen.

"We've looked at people; we've identified a few players," Kinnear revealed, when discussing the prospect of replacing Owen at the end of the season.

"It has to be done. If Michael does make that decision and leaves us - I should imagine his agent will speak to other clubs next month - we have to be in a position to do something about it.

"We have to have somebody to come in. It won't be easy to find a player that scores the goals Michael does, but that is exactly what we would have to do."

And Kinnear added: "A few players elsewhere are out of contract themselves, which could work in our favour."