The Magpies skipper was again overlooked by national boss Fabio Capello for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus, sparking a debate over his future on the biggest stage.

But amid rumours that the Italian is ready to contact the 28-year-old to tell him the door is not closed, Kinnear is not expecting to have to raise the spirits of his £17million man.

He said: "Michael is a very proud lad and he loves playing for his country, and he will be obviously disappointed at being left out.

"But he is a terrific professional and I know that there will be no need for me or any of my coaching staff to have to lift his morale up.

"He is an experienced professional and he would not let any disappointment with England affect anything that he has to do with Newcastle United.

"Yes, I was surprised to hear Michael was not in the England squad. If you look at his goals record, it is probably better than some of those who are in the squad and in that respect, he is light-years ahead of them.

"Even if he had been on the bench for England in their World Cup games, he would have been a huge asset because he can assess the situation very well.

"In fact, I would go as far as the stake my life on Michael Owen, and I have to say that England's loss will be our gain.

"I only hope England do not lose any of these two games and people turn round and say leaving Michael Owen out was not the best thing to do."

Owen, of course, has 40 goals in 89 appearances for his country, and is currently fourth in the all-time list.

While he remains on Tyneside, several of his colleagues - Shay Given, Damien Duff, Fabricio Coloccini, Charles N'Zogbia, Xisco, Steven Taylor, Geremi and Tim Krul - will join up with their respective countries at various points.

Given, Taylor, Coloccini, Geremi, N'Zogbia and Duff will do so having helped the club end its run of five successive defeats with Sunday's 2-2 Barclays Premier League draw at Everton.

That came as a welcome relief for everyone at St James' Park as they attempt to turn their season around, and that included owner Mike Ashley.

The billionaire is currently trying to sell the club - it is understood prospective buyers have until October 17 to register a firm interest - with at least eight consortia having contacted investment bankers Seymour Pierce, who are handling the sale.

However, that did not stop Ashley, who appointed Kinnear as interim boss on September 26, from calling the 61-year-old on Sunday evening.

The manager said: "Mike was on the phone not long after the final whistle went saying he had been watching the game with his kids on the big screen at home.

"He said he nearly jumped out of the window when Leighton Baines appeared from nowhere to kick that shot from Charles N'Zogbia off the goal-line because he thought it was going to be the winning goal.

"But he seemed happy enough at our performance and the eventual result."

Meanwhile, Kinnear hopes to get an answer from Gerry Francis this weekend over the coaching position he has offered him at St James'.

The former Wimbledon boss wants Francis to work with the players two days a week, and with Stoke also keen to recruit the former England midfielder, Kinnear is hoping for good news when he heads south during the international break.

He said: "Gerry is thinking our offer over at the moment.

"I have not been back to London since I came to Newcastle a week past Friday, and I have only been able to speak to him on the telephone.

"But I will be going to London at the weekend when we have no game, and I hope to get something sorted out by then."