Kinnear stays calm despite Owen injury

Joe Kinnear described himself yesterday as "a bit of a lunatic". No-one interrupted. Speaking to the same reporters at Newcastle whom he lambasted in a 52-expletive tirade a fortnight ago, Kinnear swore just once and although he mentioned the press in the same sentence, it was a reference to a button on his mobile phone.

This was a much cooler Kinnear than in his first pre-match press conference – even though he had a good reason to be cursing. Michael Owen collected a groin strain in training on Wednesday and after undergoing a scan yesterday lunchtime, Newcastle confirmed that their captain is out of Monday night's home game against Manchester City and that he is also a doubt for tomorrow week's local derby at Sunderland.

"He has sort of tweaked his groin in training," Kinnear said of Owen. "He had a scan and I would think we would be looking at between seven and ten days. He won't be involved for the Man City match, but he would have a realistic chance, say 50-50, for the Sunderland game. It is a massive blow really."

With Alan Smith out, Obafemi Martins only back in full training on Wednesday and with Mark Viduka having received treatment in Australia on his Achilles heel, Kinnear is facing the sort of injury problems that hindered his predecessors at St James' Park.

Kinnear said that the warning from the Football Association about his use of language was not delivered in person – "I honestly did not have a direct conversation with them. It's the language I have grown up with. I'm not trying to be something I'm not. I grew up on a council estate in Watford."

Kinnear said that Gerry Francis will not be arriving as a part-time coach and added that today could bring a development in the takeover of the club. It is understood that bankers Seymour Pierce expect discussions with potential buyers to move up a stage.