STEVEN Taylor admits that it is a relief to have a striker like Michael Owen in your side after the Toon skipper made it two goals from two games against Aston Villa at the weekend.

Owen endured a frustrating start to the season as a series of niggling injuries restricted his appearance for United.

The last, a torn thigh muscle picked up on international duty with England in October, kept the 28-year-old sidelined until late December.

But since his return the former Real Madrid ace has started eight successive games for the Magpies, scoring three times along the way.

And Geordie defender Tayls is hoping that Owen's hot streak in front of goal continues as Newcastle look to get their season back on track.

"I couldn't believe what I was hearing last week when people were writing Michael Owen off," said the England under-21 captain.

"But he is a very, very strong character and he just gets on with it, he doesn't let it get to him.

"It was unbelievable because we all know what a good player Michael is and what he brings to the team.

"He is a goal machine and we are going to need his goals between now and the end of the season.

"He has been flying in training and he was always going to start scoring again. He has done that all his career so it doesn't surprise me one little bit that he is back on the scoresheet again for us.

"As a defender it's a relief to have someone like Michael in your side who can score goals with just one chance."

Get PRIORITY ticketing for ALL Newcastle United games by becoming an official NUFC member today ... Click below to find out more ...