Loan star?

News from Spain that Michael Owen has finally realised that, whatever Sven says, a good season by Jermain Defoe is seriously going to undermine his England place. Aware that he is unlikely to play anything more than a cameo role at Madrid, Owen is now pushing for a return to Liverpool.

However, if the Reds don't come in for him (and Benitez is sounding pretty bloody minded on the fact that he doesn't see a new striker as a priority), then Owen will join Newcastle on loan for the season.

This would be a huge boost to our chances of doing anything this season, with Owen an outstanding striker with a hunger to succeed and score goals. He also has a stable home life, and is unlikely to spend his nights off attempting to get laid on the Quayside.

All we have to do now is hope that Liverpool don't come in for him.

Obviously this doesn't mean we don’t need further reinforcements, and our lack of width and depth up front are still problems which we need to resolve before the end of the month.

With only seven days to pull his finger out, Fat Fred better start writing some cheques.