WITH the future of a number of senior Newcastle players now far from certain, Sam Allardyce's first job as the club's new manager is likely to be to fend off interest in fit-again frontman Michael Owen.

Caretaker manager Nigel Pearson presided over his first training session since taking temporary charge of the Magpies yesterday morning and, on the surface at least, it was a case of business as usual as his squad stepped up their preparations for Sunday's Premiership trip to Watford.

But with Allardyce expected to be confirmed as Newcastle's next permanent manager next week, a sizeable proportion of the current first-team squad are facing an uncertain close season.

And with Owen having proved his fitness following a ten-month injury lay-off, the £16m striker is likely to be the focus of attention as the current first-team squad undergoes major surgery ahead of the new campaign.

Despite regular protestations to the contrary by senior members of the Newcastle board, it is understood that a possible release clause was inserted into Owen's contract when he moved from Real Madrid two summers ago.

By performing so poorly this season - the Magpies could yet finish the campaign in 14th place - Owen's current employers have left themselves vulnerable to a formal approach from one of their Premiership rivals.

A bid of around £12m will leave the 27-year-old with a difficult decision to make and, while he has repeatedly spoken of his guilt at an appearance record of just 12 Premiership starts in the space of two years, the current uncertainty will hardly convince Owen that his future remains on Tyneside.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool will be in the market for a new centre-forward this summer, and Owen's name is likely to figure in the plans of all three Champions League qualifiers.

Allardyce's biggest challenge will be to persuade Owen that Newcastle's ambitions continue to match his own.

The former Bolton boss is certain to view the England international as the jewel in Newcastle's crown, but he is also likely to arrive on Tyneside with his own opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the current squad.

Chairman Freddy Shepherd will hand Newcastle's next manager a significant transfer fund, but players who had seemed certain to remain on Tyneside under Roeder could yet be sacrificed if they are deemed surplus to requirements by his successor.

In particular, the future of both Nolberto Solano and Antoine Sibierski has been thrown into doubt following last weekend's developments

Both Solano and Sibierski are out of contract this summer, but the pair had been promised a one-year extension by their former boss.

Contract talks, which had been progressing smoothly, were shelved until the end of the season around a month ago, with both players expected to put pen to paper before leaving for the summer.

Those plans are now in limbo, however, with Newcastle officials unable to honour any promises that Roeder delivered before offering his resignation.

Solano has been one of the Magpies' most impressive performers this season, with his versatility digging the club out of a hole when first-choice right-back Stephen Carr suffered an injury.

Sibierski has proved equally influential since joining on a free transfer in August but, with both players due to celebrate their 33rd birthday before the end of the year, neither is guaranteed to receive the contract offer they effectively agreed to a month ago.

On the other side of the coin, two players who were not expecting to sign a new deal - Titus Bramble and Craig Moore - could yet be offered an unexpected lifeline.

Roeder finally lost faith in Bramble when the defender's error-strewn display hastened Newcastle UEFA Cup exit at the hands of AZ Alkmaar, while Moore has made just four Premiership appearances since mid-November.

Both players would have been released this summer had Roeder remained in position - his successor may yet decide that one or both still has a part to play at St James'.

After successfully rehabilitating the likes of Nicolas Anelka and El-Hadji Diouf during his time at Bolton, Allardyce could also recall serial under-achiever Albert Luque from his proposed loan spell at PSV Eindhoven.

The former Trotters manager, who is still on holiday in Spain, was yesterday linked with a possible move to Manchester City.

Sources in Manchester suggest City will attempt to hijack Newcastle's courting of Allardyce, but Magpies officials remain confident the 52-year-old's initial interest in joining Newcastle will translate into a formal appointment next week.

Roeder finally broke his silence on his departure yesterday, and insisted that he left St James' Park with a host of happy memories.

The Londoner thanked the Newcastle fans for their support, but admitted that March's European defeat in Alkmaar signalled the beginning of the end.

"I don't want people feeling sorry for me," said Roeder. "I'm disappointed at the way things have turned out, because a lot of what has happened this season has been outside my control.

"But I have more good memories than bad ones of my 14 months as manager of Newcastle United.

"My first game was the day when Alan Shearer broke the club's scoring record, and then there was that 4-1 win at Sunderland.

"Beating Chelsea 1-0 last season was a great day and it took us into the InterToto Cup and then the UEFA Cup.

"I had never managed in Europe before and it has a tremendous thrill with some great results, especially winning in Palermo."