ALAN SHEARER spent a fortune on mobile phone calls persuading Michael Owen to come and join him at Newcastle United - the value of those initial discussions are now priceless.

The former England skipper will be rekindling a partnership with the striker asked to take over the responsibility of scoring the majority of his country's goals.

The pair played 18 times together for the national team before Shearer retired from international football. The friendship built from those days under Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan has ensured Owen will walk out in front of thousands of adoring supporters at St James' Park today.

Now the hope is for the two good friends - both members of the Premiership's exclusive 100 goals club - to build up a relationship on the pitch that will transform Newcastle from occupants of a relegation place into a side genuinely challenging for honours this season.

The pair's record together for England is not particularly flattering. From the 12 games started together they grabbed seven goals between them - three penalties from Shearer - but rarely combined to make each other's goals.

But the little and large combination developed and their understanding reached new levels when Shearer decided to end his days as England's No 9; having amassed a total of 30 goals which Owen has since surpassed by two despite being just 25.

Shearer's last appearance for his country ended in a 3-2 defeat to Romania at Euro 2000, when both found the net.

It is that sort of outcome in front of goal that Graeme Souness will be hoping for and what Freddy Shepherd is pinning £16m on.

It is little wonder Shearer had such an active part in negotiations with Owen. The burden of scoring the goals to turnaround the Magpies' season is not all on the shoulders of the elder-statesman.

The 35-year-old's failure to close in on Jackie Milburn's 200 goal Newcastle club record this season - he still has 194 - emphasises his need for assistance.

It was claimed Newcastle would find it impossible to replace the lightning pace of Craig Bellamy, but they have gone a few better by completing the purchase of Owen.

Owen may be slightly slower than the Welshman but the new boy is a far better finisher.

It now means Souness can abandon his three-pronged attack that has worked to the detriment of Shearer's ageing legs and concentrate on supplying his lethal front two with the necessary ammunition.

With Albert Luque on the left, there remains the matter of who will be asked to play on the right flank with Nolberto Solano suddenly emerging as a possibility.

But, regardless of whether that role is afforded to Solano, Kieron Dyer, Lee Bowyer or James Milner, Souness has surely found the correct formula for the thing most lacking from his side's play - goals