England striker Michael Owen scored a superb hat-trick to give Graeme Souness something to celebrate in his 50th Premiership game in charge of Newcastle.

Owen notched his first treble for the club since his £16million arrival on Tyneside from Real Madrid last summer while Newcastle legend Alan Shearer moved to within just one goal of equalling Jackie Milburn's all-time record of 200 when he struck the Magpies' third.

The kick-off at Upton Park had been delayed for half-an-hour due to a road accident close to the stadium but Owen was quicker off the mark than the home defence when he latched on to Shearer's headed pass to dink the ball over the advancing Roy Carroll.

The home side briefly threatened to make a game of it when they levelled the scores in the 19th minute thanks to an own goal from Nolberto Solano.

Titus Bramble, attempting to clear Marlon Harewood's right-wing cross into the six-yard box, succeeded only in finding Solano's shins and the ball rebounded into the net.

But Owen, ably abetted by warhorse Shearer, undid the Hammers again two minutes before the interval.

This time Solano was the provider though, making amends for his own goal blunder by supplying a perfect free-kick into the penalty area for Owen to deftly head beyond the flat-footed Carroll.

Newcastle did not have it all their own way in the opening 45 minutes though and Bobby Zamora was unlucky not to put West Ham in front in the 28th minute.

Solano's own goal sparked West Ham into life and a mazy run by Yossi Benayoun ended abruptly when he appeared to be brought down by Jean-Alain Boumsong inside the penalty area. However, referee Phil Dowd waved away their spot-kick appeals.

In the 28th minute, a fine run by Matthew Etherington almost brought some reward for the enthusiastic Zamora as the former Spurs pair linked up to create an goalscoring opportunity that brought the best out of Shay Given.

The Republic of Ireland international was forced to dive to his right to keep out Zamora's powerful effort on the turn.

But Newcastle were always a threat going forward and in the 40th minute a clever move almost brought them a second goal.

A long ball from Ramage was knocked into the path of Scott Parker by Shearer but the former Chelsea midfielder saw his 20-yard effort flash past the left-hand upright.

However, Parker's effort was merely a portent of what was to come two minutes before the interval when Owen struck again to re-establish their lead.

The second half began in a sloppy fashion with both sides preferring to give the ball away at every opportunity rather than use it to good effect.

In the 51st minute Shola Ameobi stopped Benayoun on the edge of the penalty area with a deliberate foul that brought the Newcastle player a yellow card.

West Ham were again unable to make the most of their advantage and Benayoun's effort was blocked by United's defensive wall.

In the 55th minute West Ham were almost level for a second time when Robbie Elliott made a hash of an attempted clearance to leave Harewood with a clear scoring chance.

But the West Ham striker's effort was brilliantly saved by Given as the home side increased the pressure on the Geordies.

Seconds later, the ball rebounded to West Ham midfielder Carl Fletcher whose 25-yard drive beat the outstretched Given only for the right-hand upright to come to the Newcastle 'keeper's rescue.

Newcastle had a further escape immediately afterwards when a cross from Zamora fell to the feet of defender James Collins but his goalbound effort was hooked off the line by Shearer.

In the 61st minute Benayoun was replaced by David Bellion as West Ham manager Alan Pardew searched for an alternative method of puncturing the Newcastle defence for a second time.

Shearer scored Newcastle's third in the 65th minute with his first-ever goal at Upton Park.

The goal, courtesy of a slide rule pass from Owen, looked to have ended West Ham's interest but they bargained without the unpredictability of Ameobi.

He inexplicably handled the ball in the 73rd minute to allow Harewood to slot home the resultant spot-kick and give the home side a lifeline.

But only a fine save by Carroll prevented Owen from completing his hat-trick in the 85th minute when he did well to stop the England man's header from dipping into the roof of the net.

However, a counter-attack in the final seconds of injury time saw Owen score his third from a pass by Amdy Faye.

Teams:

West Ham Carroll, Repka (Aliadiere 76), Ferdinand, Collins, Konchesky, Benayoun (Bellion 62), Fletcher, Mullins, Etherington, Harewood, Zamora.

Subs Not Used: Dailly, Newton, Hislop.

Booked: Carroll, Ferdinand, Etherington.

Goals: Solano 20 og, Harewood 73 pen.

Newcastle Given, Ramage, Boumsong, Bramble, Elliott, Solano (Bowyer 79), Faye, Parker, Ameobi, Shearer, Owen.

Subs Not Used: Harper, Luque, Chopra, Gate.

Booked: Bramble, Ameobi, Parker.

Goals: Owen 5, 43, Shearer 66, Owen 90.

Att: 34,836

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).