HAVING played alongside the likes of Alan Shearer, Robbie Fowler and Mark Viduka. James Milner is well qualified to discuss the merits of Premier League strikers.

And while he has only started alongside him once this season, the Newcastle midfielder is adamant that Michael Owen is as good as it gets when it comes to goalscoring talent.

"He's definitely right up there at the top," said Milner, ahead of this evening's Premier League away game at Derby. "Alan was a bit different because he put his foot through the back of everything he hit.

"When he was at Leeds, Robbie was one of those players who always seemed to catch the ball right so it went right into the corner. But Michael Owen's finishing is in a different class.

"When he is one-on-one with the keeper, nine times out of ten you would back him to put it in the back of the net. If we put the ball in the right area for him, we know he's going to get us a goal."

Having recovered sufficiently from last week's international exertions, Owen is expected to make his second Premier League start of the season when the Magpies travel to Pride Park tonight.

Last Wednesday's double against Russia made it five goals in four games since the 27-year-old returned from a thigh injury last month, a record that makes him the most in-form striker in the country.

Such a situation seemed unlikely at the start of the season, with Owen's commitment being questioned following speculation linking him with a possible move to Manchester United or Arsenal and his fitness record being criticised after a run of just 13 domestic starts in the last two years.

A trio of goals against Israel and Russia have made his critics swallow their words, and the former Liverpool marksman is now determined to make up for lost time by maintaining his fine run of form.

"It's ridiculous that a player of his quality has got the stick that he has," said Milner. "Anyone who has ever worked with Michael knows what a great player he is.

"Everyone in the country knows all about his quality, and he has shown it yet again this month. It's good to have him back and I don't see why he can't keep his goalscoring run going.

"He is a goalscorer, everyone knows what quality he has and, as long as he keeps getting the chances, I'm sure he will take most of them, 80 per cent at least.

"We saw his finishing quality against Russia and that can only be good for Newcastle. As one of the younger members of the squad, it's great to be able to work with players of his calibre every day."

At the age of 21, Milner might be one of the youngest players on Newcastle's books. But with 148 Premier League appearances under his belt already, the Yorkshireman can hardly be described as a novice.

His extensive experience already spreads to the international sphere, with last weekend's appearance in Montenegro making him the most capped played in the history of England's Under-21 side.

And with Steve McClaren hardly blessed with a plethora of options when it comes to filling the senior side's troublesome left-midfield berth, a senior call-up would hardly be out of the question if he was to maintain his stellar start to the season.

"Everyone wants to play for their country and I'm no different," said Milner. "It's an aim for me, but you get there by playing well for your club and for the Under-21s when you're called up.

"I'd love to get there at some stage. Wednesday night's performance was fantastic and showed that everyone has a chance if they're playing well, but it also proved the quality and strength in depth that there is in English football at the moment.

"Even though there are a lot of injuries, England were still able to put in a performance like that when the pressure was on and they were playing against tricky opponents."

Newcastle have shown similar depth this season, with their unbeaten start to the campaign coming despite the long-term absence of the likes of Celestine Babayaro, Joey Barton and Damien Duff.

All three will be absent again this evening, although Mark Viduka is fit after shaking off the hamstring injury he sustained against Wigan.

Steve Harper is expected to retain his place in the starting line-up despite Shay Given's return to full fitness as the Magpies look to inflict further misery on a Derby side that shipped six goals at Liverpool on their last Premier League outing.

"They'll be raring to put that right, so it's important we start well because they'll be flying out of the traps," said Milner.

"We've made a good start and I think we've made improvements from where we were last season, but it's important we don't get carried away and we continue to take it one step at a time. ''