Owen Won't Set A Date For Return

Last updated : 02 February 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

And I have to say, it does boil my p*** when you hear question after question asking when Owen will be back in an England shirt! The £17m player (who is on £103 per week!) hasn't played one single match for Newcastle in 13 months ... and he says he could opt to miss the final games of the season even if he is fit to return for Newcastle before their campaign finishes.

The 27-year-old has not started running following his cruciate knee injury at the World Cup last year and is wary of targeting a comeback date for England before he has played for Newcastle.

All talk was about England's clash in Estonia, their final European qualifier before a summer break.

Owen: "Obviously I've got to play for my club before then, that's a decision for later. I haven't thought about what game or anything like that.

"If I'm fit to play in the last one or two games of the season it might be wise to continue with my strength programme and maybe play a couple of games behind closed doors.

"I haven't started running yet, that's the next step and if it goes well then it'll be onwards and upwards.

"No-one has said I can't play this season and it gives me hope and belief. If I don't it'll be next season.

"The plan is to run in the next week or two. I could probably run now but when it is time to run I don't want to be thinking twice about it."

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