Newcastle United caretaker boss Chris Hughton is anxious to welcome Michael Owen back from injury.

The 29-year-old England international - who has 10 goals to his name this season - has not played since the end of January when he damaged ankle ligaments.

However, he is on target to return at the KC Stadium, and with Obafemi Martins now back in harness and looking sharp following hernia surgery, there is a hope on Tyneside that the pair could make a major impact.

That is exactly what they did last season when they teamed up with Mark Viduka to score 12 goals between the three of them in the final nine games to ensure a strong finish.

Hughton said: "It's important to get as many players back as we can.

"Obafemi Martins will be now that little bit further along the line of his recovery and has been involved in three games now, so the more training he gets under his belt and the more games, we will see him go from strength to strength.

"But it is important to get the injured players back on board."