Keegan Plays Up Owen Contract Talks

Kevin Keegan believes Michael Owen would like to renew his contract at Newcastle United and hopes Chris Mort will soon open negotiations with the England striker. Talks between Owen's advisers and the Newcastle chairman are scheduled to begin within the next fortnight and Keegan is optimistic that an agreement which is due to expire next June may shortly be extended.

Newcastle's manager prepared for tomorrow's Tyne-Wear derby at home to Sunderland confident that the forward, whom he has not only made his captain but converted to a deep-lying role, is ready to commit to the club.

"My genuine feeling is that Michael Owen wants to be here; he wants to help lead this team for the next few years," said Keegan. "I don't want to tempt providence but my feeling is that a deal will be done as soon as they get together, really. I don't think it will take long. It's for Chris Mort to do that now. I have made it absolutely clear what I think should be done and I have passed that on to him."

Keegan pits his tactical wits against Roy Keane for the first time tomorrow but already feels he has something in common with Sunderland's manager. "I think Roy is similar to me in one thing," he said. "If he has got something on his mind he will say it, and if that upsets people at times, so be it.

"He is not scared to say things that few others have the courage to. In that respect we are similar - we are not scared of actually saying what we believe instead of sometimes thinking, 'We'd better not say that'. Sometimes we get criticized but it's not a bad thing to get criticized for being honest or having an opinion. The world is full of people who don't say anything. Millions of people in all walks of life spend their lives not saying anything in case they get into trouble."

One of his predecessors, Ruud Gullit, got himself into hot water by saying the Tyne-Wear derby was a minor affair compared with games between the Milan clubs but Keegan was not about to fall into that trap. "Sunderland here is our biggest game of the year," he insisted. "It's bigger than playing Manchester United, bigger than playing Chelsea, bigger than all of them."

As a Manchester United player Keane was sent off at St James' Park for throwing a punch in Alan Shearer's direction. "It's something I wish hadn't happened," he admitted. "I reacted and let myself and my team-mates down. I hope I learnt from it but I don't see it as a defining moment in my life."

He duly anticipates considerable vitriol tomorrow but said: "As a manager you can't do much about it; you can't tackle somebody, nail somebody or score a goal. Hopefully after the game we'll be talking about the players, not myself or Kevin Keegan. I'll be surprised if Kevin scores against us - although if I see him warming up I will start to worry."