Fourth Anniversary Of Roeder's Darkest Day

"I am as passionate as ever. I want to win perhaps even more but things like that straighten you out and I actually feel lucky, although I know that's a crazy thing to say.

"Managing Newcastle is not just a job - that simplifies it too much. It is too much of an honour, it's a responsibility to be given this chance so it's never just a job.

"I am so determined to bring some success to Newcastle and like any new business, because I am new, the first couple of years are the hardest.

"Hopefully in two years' time I will have survived and I will have my own squad. Basically I am still working with other managers' squads. Obafemi Martins is mine, Damien Duff is mine and Antoine Sibierski is mine and I am happy with all three.

"Getting to the summer I know where I want to strengthen the squad, it has to be strengthened. Next year - minus the injuries - I want to accept the responsibility of where Newcastle need to be.

"People need to understand it has been impossible to do that this year with a dozen injuries for six months and I can't wait to write Michael Owen's name on the team sheet as a starter.

"Owen won't play in the reserves, neither will Shola Ameobi (out since November after hip surgery) but they are back out on the training ground playing football and Michael and Shola are very happy with where they are in terms of recovery.

"But playing on the training ground and putting the ball in the back of the net is a long way away from playing Premiership football. We've not put a date on when Michael Owen will return simply because he is a world-class footballer and he is of interest to world football. If he doesn't make that date hysteria breaks out and there is no need to.

"He will continue his build up in training this week, as will Shola. It didn't seem the right thing to do playing him in the reserves. There would have been too much interest."