BARRING any late setbacks, Michael Owen will make a return to action for Newcastle United on Saturday and wants to see results improve as they did when he first completed a club record move.

Since Owen tore his groin in training three weeks ago, the Magpies have lost four consecutive matches, including being dumped out of the Carling Cup by a weakened Wigan side.

It is a run that bares a resemblance to Newcastle's fortunes before the England striker was snapped up from Real Madrid in a £16m deal.

They failed to win any of their opening four Premiership fixtures.

But after Owen's debut ended in a draw with Fulham, Newcastle won their next two games with him in the side and he has only tasted defeat once in the six appearances he has made under manager Graeme Souness.

And now, with his bid to return to full fitness going to plan, Owen is hoping for fortunes to turnaround again and help Souness ease the mounting pressure that has rested heavily on his shoulders.

"When I first arrived there was doom and gloom, we put a couple of results together and things started to look up because we climbed into the top half of the table," said Owen.

"But the injury problems have struck again and the doom and gloom has resurfaced. You don't want to go on about the injuries but if the manager could get all the players back we would win a few games and climb back up the table."

Sitting on the sidelines has been frustrating for Owen, who has shown in the few appearances he has made for his new club exactly why £16m was splashed out on him.

But without the 25-year-old in their ranks Newcastle look a toothless proposition and have failed to score in open play in the last four games he has missed against Chelsea, Everton, Wigan and Aston Villa.

Even if Owen, as expected, does make his eagerly-awaited return to the starting line-up this weekend, history suggests Newcastle will do well to earn as much as a point against Arsenal.

The Gunners have not lost to Newcastle in six league and cup attempts in the past five years and know maximum points is essential if they are to stay in touch with the Champions League places.

Newcastle are also hopeful that full-back Stephen Carr and midfielder Kieron Dyer will be back in contention for a place, but it is Owen's fitness that Souness is really pinning his hopes on.

And Owen, with four goals to his name since joining, insists he is eager to be back in a Newcastle shirt.

He said: "It turned out to be a three-week injury and Arsenal is my target.

"Barring any slip-ups I should be in the squad for the Arsenal game.

"It has not been good for me, especially at this time because there have been a couple of bad results and the fans, players, manager and everybody else are far from happy.

"But you can't rush injuries. I have done that before and it hasn't helped my situation at all. I remember on one occasion when I rushed myself back and I was out for six weeks after that. You have to be sensible."

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.