Obafemi Martins

Injured striker Michael Owen was again missing from the Newcastle squad but they did not miss the England man as goals from Andy Carroll and Albert Luque secured a comfortable win over Serie A side Juventus at St James' Park.

United manager Sam Allardyce had hoped to have one or both of Shola Ameobi and Owen fit for selection, but the pair were once again on the sidelines.

With summer signing Mark Viduka also yet to link up with the side following international duty, Obafemi Martins and Luque took the chance to impress up front.

But it was Juventus who had the first chance, Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta making light work of Paul Huntington's challenge before rolling the ball straight at Shay Given in the Newcastle goal.

The Turin side set the pace early on and it was against the run of play when Mark Clattenburg awarded the hosts a ninth-minute penalty as Jonathan Zebina impeded James Milner in the area.

That gave Luque the opportunity to convert from the spot and he did so calmly to grab his third goal in two games, following a brace against Celtic.

Milner continued to threaten on the left flank, twice breaking dangerously on the counter-attack, while Iaquinta looked to have the beating of Huntington when the visitors had possession.

Marco Marchionni also impressed but his finishing could not match some fine approach play.

Soon after, an underhit clearance by Huntington gave Juventus possession and when captain Pavel Nedved hooked a shot hard and low at the Newcastle goal it took a diving save from Given to preserve his side's advantage.

Newcastle doubled their lead when an astute pass from Charles N'Zogbia put Martins clear on goal.

His powerful shot was parried by Gianluigi Buffon and when the loose ball found its way to Carroll, on the pitch for two minutes as Luque came off with a minor knock, he composed himself before firing across the World Cup-winning goalkeeper and into the net.

Allardyce made changes at the interval, with Kieron Dyer - who has been linked with a move to West Ham or Tottenham - among the new arrivals.

Although he received a mixed greeting from the fans he started brightly and was central to a move that saw N'Zogbia narrowly miss with a drilled shot from 30 yards.

OYEBOLA, NIGERIAN BORN BRITISH BOXER DIES

Doctors in London have confirmed former British heavyweight champion James Oyebola's death, after the 47-year-old was shot in the face on Monday morning.

Oyebola had been treated at a Charing Cross Hospital after an incident at a Fulham nightclub, where he had stepped in to help staff tackle cigarette smokers.

Medics had kept the 6ft 9ins fighter alive on a life support machine, but that was then switched off at 12.39pm on Friday.

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney has paid tribute to his former charge, who won the WBC international heavyweight title in 1993 and then held the British heavyweight title between 1994 and 1996.

"James had to fight tooth and nail for everything he achieved in life and then he dedicated himself to encouraging young kids to do the same," Maloney said.

"This is one of the saddest times I have ever experienced. Boxing has lost a great ambassador and it is awful that a guy like James should have been the victim of such a cowardly attack."

Oyebola turned to management after calling time on his career in 1996 and guided his light-welterweight protege Ajose Olusegun to the Commonwealth title in London in June.

Brighton 's Scott Welch also spoke kindly of his old foe, whom he enjoyed two titanic battles with in the mid 90's.

"He only phoned me two weeks ago and told me how well the family was doing and about the prospects he was managing," Welch said.

"We didn't like each other at the time but after we fought there was a great mutual respect and admiration. He might have been big and bad inside the ring but he was a great family man out of it."

Oyebola left the ring with a record of 18 wins from 23 fights, and a bronze medal at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.