Keegan eager to keep Owen

Michael Owen stated his case for a new Newcastle contract with a precious winner against Bolton - and manager Kevin Keegan insists everyone at the club wants him to stay.

His heroic 71st-minute effort came just days before Keegan heads into a meeting with owner Mike Ashley and executive director of football Dennis Wise to discuss, among other things, the England striker's new deal.

Asked if the goal would strengthen his case, the Magpies boss said: "You will have to ask them. I would have thought it has done it no harm."

He added: "The idea is that we do want Michael to stay, all of us. We have just got to get to the point where we have got an agreement, and that's got to be right for both parties.

"I know he wants to stay, I know he likes it here, really likes it here and I have made it absolutely clear I want him to."

Owen's strike made the difference in a tight game, but Newcastle were grateful to goalkeeper Shay Given who saved Kevin Nolan's 59th-minute penalty.

Keegan admitted his side rode their luck, and opposite number Gary Megson was left to bemoan yet another penalty failure.

He said: "People do miss penalties, but since I have been manager of Bolton we have missed the three penalties we have had, all with different takers.

"We have got to start scoring from those opportunities.

"A fair result is neither here nor there, it doesn't matter whether if it was fair or not. We had an opportunity to get something from that game and I feel win the game, but we didn't take that."