Owen on bench again

Newcastle striker Michael Owen will start on the bench against Wigan with Sebastian Bassong on stand-by to start the match.

Boss Joe Kinnear will give central defender Steven Taylor every chance to shake off a groin injury after he missed the Fulham trip, but Bassong is waiting in the wings.

But Owen will have to make an impact off the bench again after Kinnear confirmed Obafemi Martins and Shola Ameobi will start against Latics.

Kinnear told the Chronicle: "It will be Ameobi and Martins. Why shouldn't it be? They have both scored goals and worked their socks off in our past few games.

"But Michael Owen will be involved at some stage."