With the Toon battling against relegation in the Premier League and the Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland looming on Sunday, the injuries could not have come at a worse time for Kinnear.He is already missing a host of first-team regulars through injury and faces a fight to retain the services of goalkeeper Shay Given before the transfer window closes.
Just minutes before the City match BBC aired an interview with former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd, who said: "Michael Owen owes Newcastle BIG-TIME!
"He has only played in a quarter ... or one third ... of Newcastle games since his transfer and that is 100% in wages and only 30% on the pitch."