MICHAEL Owen has failed to make the starting line-up for Newcastle's relegation decider at Aston Villa.

The Magpies skipper, who is nursing the groin injury that kept him out of last weekend's defeat to Fulham, has been named on the substitutes' bench at Villa Park.

Mark Viduka will partner Obafemi Martins in a game that will see Newcastle relegated to the Championship if they fail to pick up at least a point.

Peter Lovenkrands replaces Jonas Gutierrez in midfield, with Danny Guthrie, Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt making up the central unit.

Magpies manager Alan Shearer has been forced to shuffle his defence in the absence of the injured Habib Beye and the suspended Sebastien Bassong.

David Edgar will start at right-back, with Fabricio Coloccini partnering Steven Taylor at centre-half and Damien Duff continuing on the left flank.

ASTON VILLA (4-3-3): Friedel, Milner, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey, Gardner, Barry, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew, A Young.

Subs: Guzan, Sidwell, Delfouneso, Knight, Heskey, Reo-Coker, Albrighton.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Harper, Edgar, Coloccini, S Taylor, Duff, Guthrie, Butt, Nolan, Lovenkrands, Viduka, Martins.

Subs: Krul, Enrique, Owen, R Taylor, Smith, Gutierrez, Ameobi.

** READ A FULL REPORT AND ANALYSIS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **