Argentinian World Cup winner Diego Maradona is backing Michael Owen to fill Alan Shearer's boots for Newcastle next season.

Owen will return from the World Cup finals to lead the Magpies' line with his 35-year-old former team-mate having retired and all eyes on him after an injury-wrecked first campaign at St James' Park. However, Maradona, who was in England to take part in the Soccer Aid initiative last month, is confident the 26-year-old England striker is more than capable of taking over the Tyneside talisman's mantle.

"I used to love watching Alan Shearer play," he told Newcastle's official website, www.nufc.co.uk. "Newcastle United will miss him, there is no doubt about that - but I do not think he will be hard to replace because they already have another world class striker at the club in Michael Owen."