AS Alan Shearer agreed a long-term deal with a potential star of the future, his assistant manager urged supporters not to “knock”

Michael Owen as the striker edges back to fitness.

Shearer has been so impressed by Nile Ranger he has given the youngster a threeand- a-half year contract to remain at St James’ Park.

Ranger, who turned 18 at the weekend, was included in the squad for the Magpies’ 1-1 draw with Stoke City on Saturday and declared he was “buzzing” after agreeing terms.

Andy Carroll’s late equalising header ensured the Gateshead-born forward grabbed the headlines at the weekend. But after noting Ranger’s confidence and impressive vision in reserve team action against Man City last week, Shearer has moved quickly to tie the former Southampton forward to a long term deal. Michael Owen’s lacklustre performance at the Britannia Stadium suggested the striker has yet to recapture his sharpness in the opposition penalty area. But Ian Dowie reckons Owen’s goal scoring pedigree continues to represent Newcastle’s most potent strike threat.

“It isn’t easy to come back from an injury and it normally takes a couple of games,” the assistant boss said.

“It is a habit in this country to knock our sporting icons, which Michael has been for more than a decade now, but he will always score goals if we give him the chances.

“You only have to look at Michael Owen’s goal return this season to realise what a top player he is. He is blessed with something I never had, and that is a natural goalscorer’s instinct and that doesn’t change.

“He worked ever so hard for the team against Chelsea and at Stoke and you can see he is getting stronger and fitter the whole time,” said Dowie, who offered an insight into his working relationship with Shearer when he said: “He is a straight talker and I’m a straight talker and that works as a partnership. He gives me a free rein with the coaching, but I will tell him what we are doing and if he wants more of something we will do it..”

With Newcastle struggling to find the net, managing only nine goals in their past ten games, Shearer believes that Ranger and Carroll’s youthful exuberance could boost his side’s goal tally in the final six games of the season.

Shearer’s former club released the skilful Ranger last summer before Newcastle added him to their academy ranks. The youngster has scored 22 goals for Newcastle reserves and youth teams this season and earned a call-up to the England Under-19 side.

“This past year has been a dream for me and it couldn’t have gone any better,” he said.

“I’m buzzing to sign a new contract and commit my future to the club, because this is where I want to play my football. You never expect to come for nine months, and get offered a new contract.”

The manager maintains he wouldn’t hesitate to hand Ranger a role in the club’s battle for Premier League survival.

“If you’re good enough it doesn’t matter what age you are,” confirmed Shearer.

“If he can add something to the team, I would have no fear about putting him on. I’ve seen a response from all of them, including Nile Ranger and Andy Carroll.

“I said to Andy and Nile that they both have big roles to play here at this football club for the remaining games of the season. I told them to go out and show me what they had in the reserves.

“Both of them have done that and that’s why they were in the squad for Stoke and on the bench.”