Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has admitted how the club has been looking at fixtures to try and control where they sit on the league table.

A few weeks ago, the Magpies were aiming for a top six placing after working out how many points they would require from their next few games but Owen has found out that it doesn't work like that.

"Listen, we sat in the dressing room thinking, 'We have just won two back-to-back games and if we win on Saturday against Fulham, we will be top half, and then we have got Wigan at home - if we an get six points, we will be in the top six," Owen said.

"Then it doesn't work like that. We lost at Fulham and we only drew with Wigan and you think, 'Oh no, now we have got Chelsea away and Spurs and Liverpool coming up', and all of a sudden, it looks hard.

"And then we go and get a draw at Chelsea, so gone are the days where we are looking at fixtures."