Barclays Premier League

NEWCASTLE, England, Aug 17, 2007 (AFP) - Newcastle United's new boss Sam Allardyce is under pressure to change the Magpies' goalscoring fortunes in his first English Premier League game in charge at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

In more than half a century the Toon Army have experienced nothing quite like it.

A club which was dubbed "The Entertainers" in the mid 1990s has not scored a league goal at St James's Park since February.

In 470 minutes of Premier League football on Tyneside frustrated home fans have been forced to live on the memory of Peru midfielder Nolberto Solano's winning goal, albeit from the penalty spot, against Liverpool six months ago.

Not since 1951 have the Magpies endured such a barren period but Villa should not expect that dismal run to continue.

Newcastle opened up this season's top flight account with three goals at Bolton Wanderers and Michael Owen has since been declared fit for a first team return.

Such is United's sudden attacking strength in depth that the England forward will have to be content with a place on the bench.

"We can safely say that we can bring Michael into the squad after his two (reserve team) appearances this week," said Magpies manager Sam Allardyce.

"He's still short of match practice. But Michael Owen is Michael Owen and he's a goalscorer. We can say he's fit from the injury now.

"I think Michael is relieved to have got through two matches with no reaction to his calf injury. That's good news for me and for everyone at the club."

Owen has managed a mere 14 league appearances in two years at St James's Park but has been missed as much by his country as his club.

Assuming he negotiates the Villa game without any setbacks, the 27-year-old will be named in England manager Steve McClaren's squad to face Germany in next Wednesday's friendly at Wembley.

In the absence of injured Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, the inclusion of Owen is seen as critical.

"It would be unfair to put too much pressure on Michael at the moment," added Allardyce.

"I will speak to Steve about next week's game after the weekend. We will have a better view of it then.

"Michael's a bit more in the forefront after Rooney's injury and that's obvious. But Steve has to get ready for qualifiers. The Germany friendly could be a good exercise for Michael Owen, Steve McClaren and Newcastle United."

Owen is one fifth of a fearsome attacking quintet featuring the Nigeria's Obafemi Martins, Australia's Mark Viduka and young Englishmen Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi.

It is a forward line the envy of many Premier League clubs and Villa manager Martin O'Neill would certainly benefit from such firepower.

Several targets have been identified by the ambitious Northern Irishman and he is keen to tie Olof Mellberg, Luke Moore and Thomas Sorensen to new long-term contracts before this month's transfer deadline passes.

"I will build the squad before I let anyone go," said O'Neill.

"If by transfer-deadline day I have the squad I want and then somebody is desperate to go then, that is a different issue. While I allowed Liam Ridgewell to go, that's been a long-standing thing.

"Nobody here is itching to go at the moment. Obviously those things can change as we get more players in. But I won't, at this moment in time, be letting anybody just walk away unless we have the players in."