Smith Heading To St James' Park?

I can tell you Allardyce has just about taken enough from strikers Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins, as he tries to get both to pledge a future at Newcastle.

Owen has not given Big Sam "the right signals" with his continued silence on the issue, and although Martins DID say he wanted to stay, both have get-out clauses written into their contracts, and Sam is past the "begging" stage.

He wants players who WANT to play for Newcastle, and 26-year-old Smith has the fire and passion the ex-Bolton boss is looking for.

Smith, who signed a five-year deal in 2004, is ready to leave Old Trafford after being told he will not be offered a new contract.

The former Leeds forward is said to have been lured to the North-East by the promise of regular first-team football, which he is unlikely to get at Old Trafford due to the summer arrivals of Portuguese ace Nani and Brazilian star Anderson.