Owen ´sad´ to see Keegan quit

Newcastle captain Michael Owen has said he and his team-mates were “saddened” to see manager Kevin Keegan quit but warned the Magpies they had to “snap out of the doom”.

The Premier League side, put up for sale by owner Mike Ashley, have lost their last three matches and on Wednesday take on basement side Tottenham, the only team below them in the top flight, in the League Cup.

England striker Owen, whose goal couldn't prevent Newcastle being beaten by West Ham last weekend, said: “We all liked Kevin Keegan and we were sad to see him go.

“We are all feeling it at the moment – but we have got to snap out of the doom and gloom and try and get some confidence and results, and at the minute, not picking up the results is hurting the players.

“We are as much in the dark as the fans as to the next move and it does not make it any easier as Kevin Keegan was very popular with the players and the fans.”

Owen has played under four managers since arriving at St James' Park from Real Madrid in 2005 – Graeme Souness, who signed him, Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce and Keegan.

“You almost become immune to these happenings in football nowadays and I have seen plenty in my time,” said Owen, who made his name at Liverpool.

“I had three managers in the space of a few months at Real Madrid.

“It's unfortunate but that's the way it goes. But players are paid to play and we have got to go out there and perform.”

Newcastle have been put up for sale after owner Mike Ashley bowed to fan pressure and agreed to cut his links with the club.

Amidst all the speculation surrounding the future of the north-east side, there have been reports of several players wanting to leave the club but long-serving goalkeeper Steve Harper, who was at Newcastle during Keegan's first spell as manager, insisted those comments were wide of the mark.

“People talk about 11 or 12 players wanting to leave – I have been in that dressing room for a long time, but recently, I have not heard one person say they want to leave this club,” Harper said.

“We are in a difficult position at the minute which a result tomorrow (Wednesday) night would lift us out of. We are a small, tight-knit squad.”