If he cannot play for Newcastle United ... I'd make it perfectly clear he cannot play for England. This has happened too often in the past, and the one loser has ALWAYS been Newcastle.
One report says: "Long-time England team-mates David Beckham and Michael Owen appear to have little chance of facing old rivals Germany in a friendly at Wembley this month because of injury.
"Striker Owen is still recovering from a thigh injury and will probably miss Newcastle United's opening game of the Premier League season. But if he does make an appearance in that game he has a chance of facing Germany."
If I was Sam Allardyce, I'd put it plain and simple to the England international, "forget it"!
Allardyce: "The tear in the muscle hasn't healed as quickly as we would like".
England meet Germany at the new Wembley Stadium on Aug 22 to warm-up for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia.