Problems mount for Souness

The sort of opportunity on which Michael Owen usually thrives laid him low on Saturday. Hesitation by Anthony Gardner let him use his acceleration to contest a 50-50 ball with the goalkeeper. There was, however, to be no dinked finish this time, just the collision with Paul Robinson that broke the fifth metatarsal of the England striker's right foot.

There had been only the ghost of a chance, but those are often situations of substance for Owen. Newcastle are in need of such polished opportunism. At White Hart Lane it was beyond the team to create a chance for their forwards with skill or intelligence.

Though Newcastle writhe in anguish, the injury will be a minor inconvenience to England if the recovery goes according to schedule. It does not matter that Owen will miss a friendly on March 1st and Sven-Goran Eriksson might even come to think of it as a refreshing sabbatical for the striker prior to the World Cup. The concern for the Swede lies in the fact that the healing process cannot be trusted to stick to a strict timetable.

Complications are not uncommon and a fractured metatarsal kept Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Scott Parker out of action for, respectively, 14 weeks, five months and eight months. Parker, now with Newcastle, is believed to have resolved the problem by having a pin inserted. It is thought Owen will follow that course of action. He should return in the spring.

England would be content with that timing, but Newcastle can find no silver lining and the blackest of clouds are gathering as yet another storm brews over the manager. "I don't know if there is money to spend," Graeme Souness said when asked if he will enter the transfer market. "You will have to ask the chairman." Freddy Shepherd cannot commit funds to a manager he may be about to sack.

As recently as the beginning of December it was being reported that Souness would be dismissed if he followed a League Cup defeat to Wigan with a loss to Aston Villa. Newcastle took a point only because Gareth Barry missed a late penalty. Souness may require another break when Middlesbrough come to St James' Park this afternoon.

While piecing together whatever shards of morale are left, he ludicrously presented the defeat at White Hart Lane as a close contest in which individual errors by his players were decisive. The truth is the only player in Newcastle's back four or midfield who would have met Tottenham's standards was Parker.

There was no sense that the visitors had anything other than a cursory plan to follow and Souness's distaste for the detailed tactical preparations of other managers leaves Newcastle looking like an anachronism.

The contrast was severe with Spurs, who have limitations but normally still suggest that Martin Jol has a specific scheme in mind that is gradually being realised.

His side were hindered because they had no one to stretch and turn Newcastle on the flanks, but the manager himself was first to mention that limitation afterwards. Yesterday's reports that Spurs will vie with Manchester United to buy Marseille's left winger Franck Ribery made complete sense.

The breakthrough against Newcastle came with a piece of direct play as the target man Mido rose to meet a long kick downfield by Robinson. The apprehensive Titus Bramble then lunged and slipped while Paul Ramage did not react sharply, but the left-footed volley by Teemu Tainio near the corner of the penalty area was placed beautifully into the far corner of the net.

The other goal arrived after 66 minutes when the busy Robbie Keane crossed to Mido. The Egyptian's mishit shot bounced past Shay Given. The goalkeeper and Owen are the only consistent contributors Newcastle have, but Given was also hurt and damaged a thumb.