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Kevin Keegan will head into a meeting today with Mike Ashley, the Newcastle United owner, with renewed determination to resolve the contracts of Michael Owen and James Milner after the pair proved invaluable in helping stave off an early cup exit.

Owen’s decisive goal, in the 97th minute, ensured progression in the Carling Cup and Milner’s outstanding individual performance will also have given Ashley a timely nudge with Aston Villa still keen to lure the England Under-21 player south.

“James Milner has played too many under-21 games, he’s very underrated and needs to make the step up now,” Keegan, the Newcastle manager, said. “He’s getting everything out of the game that he puts in. It’s nice to still be in the hat and this is a competition that we can certainly enjoy this season.”

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Newcastle looked in control when Milner wriggled into the penalty area and his cross was turned into his own net by Scott Dann. Milner then spurned two identical chances before his cross somehow eluded Andy Marshall to find the corner of the net.

Clinton Morrison restored confidence for the home side with an excellent finish in first-half stoppage time, but they did not look capable of sneaking a second goal until Dann made amends for his earlier aberration by nodding Aron Gunnarsson’s gargantuan throw past Shay Given in the fourth minute of added time.

Coventry City (4-4-2): A Marshall – M Hall, E Ward, S Dann, D Fox – A Gunnarsson, G Beuzelin (sub: M Doyle, 63min), J Tabb (sub: R Simpson, 88), M Mifsud – C Morrison, L McKenzie (sub: J Gray, 74). Substitutes not used: D Ireland, B Turner, K Thornton, J Clarke.

Newcastle United (4-5-1): S Given – H Beye, F Coloccini, S Bassong, J Enrique – Gérémi (sub: M Owen, 75), N Butt, D Guthrie, J Gutiérrez, C N’Zogbia – J Milner. Substitutes not used: S Harper, S Taylor, D Edgar, B Tozer, R Donaldson, N Ranger.

Referee: A Bates.

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