Newcastle 1 Bolton 0

Michael Owen gave England's World Cup qualifying hopes a massive boost with a match-winning goal just 19 minutes into his latest comeback.

And Owen also staked a huge claim for a new contract when boss Kevin Keegan goes to London on Wednesday to present his case to owner Mike Ashley.

Newcastle's £17million striker came off the bench to head home the winner on 71 minutes from substitute Geremi's left-wing cross, giving the Magpies a win they barely deserved.

And that is great news for England boss Fabio Capello going into next month's double-header against Andorra and Croatia.

But the man Newcastle had to thank most was fit-again keeper Shay Given, who made a a fabulous penalty save from Kevin Nolan that dramatically changed the game.

Ashley and Keegan will have plenty to discuss before they get to the thorny issue of Owen's contract.

Keegan wants three new players before the transfer deadline closes, and on this evidence he badly needs them.

His problems were compounded when Obafemi Martins limped off on 52 minutes to be replaced by Owen.

Keegan believes the Nigerian will be out for up to three weeks with a groin injury.

But Keegan was delighted with the way Given and Owen came back from injury to put in match-winning displays.

The manager said: "The turning point was Shay Given's penalty save. Bolton had made it very difficult for us in the first half and if they had gone ahead we would have been in big trouble.

"Shay's save was like getting a goal because it set the crowd alight. It was every bit as important as Owen's goal."

Keegan is hoping that his meeting with Ashley will sort out the Owen contract issue, but he was coy about the board's attitude. He added: "You will have to ask them. But his display today has done his case no harm."

A cautious Bolton side had clearly come to play on the break and Newcastle simply didn't have the craft or guile in the first half to break the visitors down.

But Newcastle needed Given to prevent the visitors going ahead on 59 minutes. A cross from Gretar Steinsson was headed on by Joey O'Brien only for Toon centre back Steven Taylor to play the ball with his right arm. Bolton skipper Nolan stroked the ball low to Given's left, but the keeper went down smartly to scramble the ball away.

Bolton boss Gary Megson felt his side threw it away in the second half.

He said: "It was frustrating. We are angry with ourselves for not getting something from the match."

Martins had scorned a great chance to put Newcastle ahead when he got goal-side of Gary Cahill to get on the end of Geremi's cross. But Martins' header travelled across the face of goal without troubling Jussi Jaaskelainen.

That failed attempt signalled the end of Martins' contribution as he limped off. Owen came on - and the game turned on its head.

DID YOU KNOW?

This game was 0-0 last season, but Bolton won the previous meeting at St James' Park 2-1 with a double strike from Diouf.

HOW THEY RATED

NEWCASTLE

Given 9, Beye 6, Taylor 8, Coloccini 7, N'Zogbia 7, Milner 7, Butt 6, Guthrie 6, Gutierrez 6, Martins 6 (Owen 8), Duff 5 (Geremi 8).

Manager Keegan 8

BOLTON

Jaaskelainen 7, Steinsson 7, Cahill 6, A O'Brien 6 Samuel 7, J O'Brien 7 (Riga 5), Nolan 7, Muamba 7, Taylor 5 (Gardner 6), Davies 7, Elmander 6 (McCann 6).