English Premier League: Kevin Keegan is confident that Michael Owen will soon be back in England's first team, despite the striker's status as an unused substitute when Fabio Capello's side beat Switzerland at Wembley on Wednesday in the Italian's first match in charge.

"Michael will be disappointed but he's going to get another chance for England," said the Newcastle United manager yesterday before catching a flight to Birmingham, where his relegation-threatened team hope to secure the first win of his second stint in charge at Aston Villa today.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Michael makes an England place his own again. New managers try new things, look at changing things and some big names get sacrificed. But cream always rises to the top and Michael is 28, not 33."

While one of Capello's first acts as England manager was to drop Owen, Bobby Robson marked his opening game as national coach by omitting Keegan. "I was dropped by Bobby Robson and went out and scored four goals in Newcastle's next game," he recalled. "I didn't like it but you have to get on with it, being dropped happens to us all."

Moreover international demotion is not entirely new for Owen, who was once left out during Keegan's time as England coach. "Michael didn't come in and knock my door down or anything," he said. "I explained my reasons and he accepted them. Michael is a strong character and he's a very, very good professional. He's taken it in his stride. Even if things bother him privately, you never get the feeling that they have. He's very, very mature."

Keegan also believes Owen is more flexible than widely imagined. Asked whether the striker could play in a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 formation internationally, Newcastle's manager insisted. "Yes, of course. Great players can play in any system. Great players make systems work."

He regards Owen as a victim of his recent injury record rather than Capello's tactics. "What people choose to ignore are the injuries Michael's had but now we've got him in really good shape. I genuinely believe Michael Owen will score goals for England again."

More immediately, Keegan trusts his new captain's strike rate will lift Newcastle clear of relegation waters. "You need a certain amount of points to be safe and we haven't got them yet," he admitted. "Even when I took the job, I didn't think we were safe. We have some tough fixtures ahead but so have other teams."

• Guardian Service