Alan Shearer is refusing to rule out the possibility that Michael Owen could be dropped for Newcastle United's trip to Liverpool on Sunday. The relegation-threatened club's manager admits that persisting with the 4-3-3 formation he deployed in the 0–0 draw at home to Portsmouth on Monday night could be "really mad" and is consequently poised to leave at least one striker from Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Owen on the bench at Anfield.
When Shearer replaced the convalescent Joe Kinnear he expressed considerable faith in Owen and stressed that the erstwhile England striker would be guaranteed a starting place in his sides, but yesterday Newcastle's manager seemed keener to emphasise that he is creating a meritocracy in which no one is indispensable.
"If I do decide to drop one of the three strikers it will be a tough choice," reflected the former England captain who is well aware that Owen has not scored for nine games now and missed an excellent chance against Portsmouth. "If I believe Michael can score at Liverpool then that will be reflected in the team on Sunday. If I believe that he can't then that's a decision I have to make. I will go on Sunday with the team I believe will be best suited to that particular game.
"When you look at the stats, work-rate wise, there's no problem with Michael, he's always in the top three or four players. But it's goals that Michael's made his name from and he was disappointed not to score the other night, as was everybody else. If he gets in the same situation on Sunday, we'll be looking for him to put it away. Michael's still banging goals in during training but I need him to start scoring in games."
Omitting Owen on the trip to the striker's former club would be a politically loaded act, but it seems that Shearer has certainly at least contemplated demoting a long-standing friend and one-time team-mate to the substitute ranks as he ponders his best attacking combination. "I have done mad things in my time," he said. "But, without wanting to give away formations or selections, it might be really mad to go to Anfield with three up front."
Although Newcastle are poised to restore the newly fit Joey Barton to midfield they must operate without a specialist left-back as José Enrique's hamstring strain appears poised to rule the Spaniard out for at least two weeks. With Steven Taylor also sidelined, their manager is hoping for an impressive central defensive performance against Fernando Torres from Sébastien Bassong.
"Bassong has probably been our best player since I came here," said Shearer. "I have been very impressed by Sébastien. He has everything, good pace, he's good in the air, he can use the ball and he can read the game. I think he has a big future, I really do – although I'd like him to score a goal from a corner."
Considering that Newcastle have registered just one goal – and two points – during Shearer's four-game tenure such words were heartfelt. Owen's barren run cannot end soon enough but whether he is deployed from the start tomorrow or used as in "impact" substitute remains to be seen.
