Keegan handed Owen, pictured, the skipper's armband after he returned to the club in January.

And the 28-year-old – entering the final year of his St James's Park contract – will retain the captaincy this season, whoever Keegan signs this summer.

Keegan likes Owen's no-nonsense attitude, with the former Real Madrid and Liverpool man always willing to speak his mind in the dressing room and on the pitch.

"Yes, Michael's my captain," Keegan told the Gazette. "He's really impressed everybody.

"He leads by example, and that's a good way to lead. He says: 'I'll work hard – so you work hard'.

"He's not scared to give his opinion when he's right, and he's not scared to say what he feels. He's a tremendous professional, and he trains properly every day."

Owen – who struck 13 goals for Newcastle last season – has been hit with a couple of problems early in pre-season, including a calf injury, and missed last Saturday's 4-1 win over Hartlepool United.

He is back in full training, but unlikely to return away to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, and could instead make his seasonal debut in Mallorca Summer Cup early next month.

Right-back Habib Beye also stayed behind on Tyneside, having been pulled out of the Hartlepool game as a precaution.

Keegan said: "Beye's very fit, but he just felt a little twinge on Thursday, and we just decided to pull him out until Monday.

"It was the same with Michael Owen. He felt a little twinge, and we pulled him out about eight or nine days ago.

"There's just no point risking them at this stage."