Michael Owen insists he never lost faith that his Newcastle goalscoring drought would come to an end.

The England striker found the back of the net for his club for the first time since December 2005 in the 2-0 Carling Cup win over Barnsley on Wednesday.

Owen has struggled with foot and knee injuries over the last year-and-a-half, but the former Real Madrid and Liverpool forward admits he was always confident he would rediscover his scoring touch.

"I'm playing and scoring, the two things I am paid to do, and when you've done both of those, you go home happy with your night's work," Owen continued....

"The feeling of playing and scoring certainly wasn't one of relief. I know I'm fine. I'm fit and strong, and I know if I'm those things then that adds up to me scoring goals, which I've always done.
Fully focused."

"I'm not relieved in any way, I'm just happy I can go home like any other player looking forward to training and the game on Saturday, because I haven't been able to do that for some time."
Owen also says he will remain fully focused on his Newcastle form despite the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers against Israel and Russia."

"I hope the England manager [Steve McClaren] was pleased, but my initial concern is playing for Newcastle because if I do not play for Newcastle, I don't play for England," Owen added.
"It's in that order. You have got to do well for your club or you are not picked for your country."