Owen Is NO Marcelino!

Last updated : 11 October 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Marcelino, Maric, Luque, Viana, Sansom, Fereday, Brock, Pistone, Guivarc'h, Domi, Bassedas and Distin are just a dozen of those who have cried off.

But Michael Owen has come out fighting in the face of allegations that he is putting his future at risk playing for England.

Owen has found himself coming under intense criticism from some Magpies followers.

They claim he is more interested in representing England than the club who paid £17million for him just over two years ago.

Owen insisted nothing could be further from the truth. His desire, he claims, as it has always been, is to play for anyone, anytime.

Owen: "People who label me as someone who is just trying to do this or that are wrong.

"I have always pushed myself. I have played when I have been hurt for club and country. My career is short, so I am hungry to play every game and score every goal.

"I just cannot fathom the way things have snowballed. I thought people would think it was fantastic that I had got back in eight days. I thought they would be talking about how I had gone through the pain barrier to get back so quickly.

"Instead, it has been turned into a negative. Maybe the speed of my recovery has contributed to people thinking it cannot be right.

"If I was only interested in playing for England, I would not have bust a gut to get myself fit and be available for Sunday.
 
"It has been stirred up for quite a while, right back to my Liverpool days. I scored for England in the World Cup at such an early age at a time when Liverpool were coming fourth and fifth in the league.

"My room-mate was Jamie Carragher, who is a Liverpool fan. All his family are Liverpool and Everton fans as well, so they are right in the thick of things within the city.

"I remember him saying that because I made my name with England, I would always be associated with them - that the fans would think I was England's player rather than Liverpool's until I won something with Liverpool.

"When we won the (2001 cup) treble, I definitely felt a warmth towards the fans but unfortunately that label has stuck with me right the way through my career.

"It was the manager's decision to put me on the bench on Sunday but I was definitely up for starting.

"I look around for other examples and I see Shaun Wright-Phillips. He has missed a couple of games with a hamstring injury but he is fit for England. And I saw John Toshack talking about Craig Bellamy possibly being available for Wales' game next Wednesday. He has had the same injury as me but no-one seems to be mentioning that.

"I would play in any game, for Newcastle or England, and I thought pushing myself to get back on Sunday the way I did would have dispelled any thoughts that I was just trying to get myself right for England.

"I know I am under the spotlight but it has got to be fair."