Michael Owen has pledged his future to Newcastle after a summer of speculation. The speculation was not helped by the demands of former chairman Freddy Shepherd who requested public statements from the recovering striker. 27 year old Owen has suffered a year of setbacks following his world cup 2006 cruciate knee injury. However, the player now only has one focus and that is to fight for his place in the starting line up at Newcastle. The Magpies boast an impressive strikeforce of Smith, Viduka, Martins and Ameobi all jostling for position in the starting eleven.