Owen back with a goal

[Jimbo 175]

It was a far cry from that famous heart-pounding moment against Argentina, or his hat-trick in Germany, but Michael Owen scored one of the most pivotal goals of his career yesterday. The venue was Newcastle United’s training ground and the opposition was provided by Gretna, but after a ten-month absence through injury, the centre forward did not care one jot.

 

Having undergone surgery in the United States to repair the anterior cruciate ligament damage he suffered during England’s match against Sweden in the World Cup finals last June, having expended litres of sweat and hours of frustration in the gym, Owen has almost completed his rehabilitation. He played for 75 minutes against Newcastle’s Scottish opponents behind closed doors, apparently suffering no ill-effects.

 

His goal, in a 4-1 victory, was described by observers as a dipping shot on the run, struck from a distance of more than 20 yards; Newcastle supporters will be drooling. He also turned provider for Shola Ameobi — whose return from a long-term hip complaint is also well ahead of schedule — who snapped up the rebound when another Owen effort was repelled.

 

While Glenn Roeder, the manager, has consistently refused to put a timescale on Owen’s recuperation — announcing on Monday that plans to field him in a reserve-team match this week had been shelved — the 27-year-old remains on course to play some part in Newcastle’s home match against Chelsea on April 22. He is unlikely to be considered for this weekend’s match away to Portsmouth.

 

Provided that he suffers no setbacks, Owen could have four matches to establish his fitness before the end of the season, raising the prospect of him being selected for the European Championship qualifying match in Estonia on June 6. He could also be involved on Thursday May 31, when England — the FA has continued to pay a sizeable chunk of his £110,000-a-week wages during his recovery — play Brazil in their first match at the refurbished Wembley Stadium.

 

That prospect remains some distance away, however, but the initial reports of Owen’s comeback are hugely promising. Gretna, whose director of club development is Mick Wadsworth, who worked for Newcastle under Sir Bobby Robson — a spectator at their Scottish League first division game against St Johnstone on Saturday — were invited to Tyneside when Hartlepool United were unable to comply.

 

“He didn’t look rusty at all,” Erik Paartalu, Gretna’s Australian midfield player, said. “In fact, he looked very sharp. He was going past defenders and it didn’t seem that he had been out for so long. We knew on Saturday that we would be playing Newcastle and that it was Owen’s comeback. It was a buzz. We didn’t get too stuck into him, but we did with the other lads. He combined well with Ameobi.”

 

Albert Luque, Titus Bramble and Charles N’Zogbia also took part in a 90-minute match split into thirds.

 

“If that’s what he’s like after ten months out of the game, I’d hate to play against a fully fit Michael Owen,” Gavin Skelton, the Gretna full back, said. “The goal was the hallmark of a great striker. It was just a half-chance, really, from the edge of the box, but in a flash he’d buried it in the bottom corner of the net with a right-foot shot. He didn’t smash it, it was just very clinical, brilliantly placed.

 

“He looked very sharp throughout and while I can’t recall him having many more chances, his link-up play was excellent. And I didn’t notice him breathing heavily, either. Stamina-wise, you wouldn’t have thought that this was his comeback game. Obviously, he’s not going to be match fit, but to me he looks ready for the Premiership.

 

“We’re not a bad side in our own right, but he’s the best we’ve played against. I’m glad I don’t come across forwards of his calibre every week.”

 

Owen’s two years at Newcastle have been plagued by injury. Since his club-record £16 million signing from Real Madrid, he has started only ten matches in the Barclays Premiership, scoring seven goals. Owen will hope that yesterday represented a change in fortune.

[trophyshy 7099]

great news. hopefully he can thrust us into a chance to defend the intertotocoello

[Gemmill 47353]

Class. Looking forward to seeing him back.

[Tooj 17]

http://www.toontastic.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=12859#

 

ITK me man.

[Tooj 17]

I bet Owen can't wait to thrive off the excellent service of our creative central midfield pairing of Butt/Parker.

[Ugly Mackems 134]

Michael who?

[Isegrim 10035]

I bet Owen can't wait to thrive off the excellent service of our creative central midfield pairing of Butt/Parker.

Or the perfectly misplaced set-pieces from Emre...

[Tooj 17]

I bet Owen can't wait to thrive off the excellent service of our creative central midfield pairing of Butt/Parker.

Or the perfectly misplaced set-pieces from Emre...

[@yourservice 67]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

[Isegrim 10035]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

[sammynb 3655]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

If he's fit, play him.

[Gemmill 47353]

If he's fit, play him.

 

Aye. If he gets injured now, we can still have him sorted for the start of the season, and if he does re-injure the knee, it'll be plain bad luck, and not because he isn't ready or anything.

[Isegrim 10035]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

[Gemmill 47353]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

 

Isegrim says all this now, but you should have seen the look of sheer terror on his face when I sent him flying in the Toontastic 5-a-side.

[Isegrim 10035]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

 

Isegrim says all this now, but you should have seen the look of sheer terror on his face when I sent him flying in the Toontastic 5-a-side.

Thanks for comparing me to Owen, Mr. Moore-Doppelgänger.

[Gemmill 47353]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

 

Isegrim says all this now, but you should have seen the look of sheer terror on his face when I sent him flying in the Toontastic 5-a-side.

Thanks for comparing me to Owen, Mr. Moore-Doppelgänger.

 

 

I smelt fear!

[East Stander 0]

Physioroom.com site has just changed comeback dates for both Owen and Shola to 21st April

[sammynb 3655]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

Wasn't aimed at you wolfy, just making sure a few of our lesser enlightened members weren't left out.

And fuck of course it should be fine but you just know he'll play two games for us, a couple for Ingerland and then be crocked for another season. And what the fuck has moore got to do with it, they have more chance of falling over each other in their rush to the treatment room than in training.

[Scottish Mag 3]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

Wasn't aimed at you wolfy, just making sure a few of our lesser enlightened members weren't left out.

And fuck of course it should be fine but you just know he'll play two games for us, a couple for Ingerland and then be crocked for another season. And what the fuck has moore got to do with it, they have more chance of falling over each other in their rush to the treatment room than in training.

 

The fact that Isegrim thinks that Moore is a no use dirty bastard probably?

[Isegrim 10035]

Can't believe their thinking of playing him this season.

Why not? If he is fit, then he's fit. They are not rushing him back and he is well within the normally recovery time for an anterior cruciate ligament injury, maybe it even took him a bit longer than normal.

It's more the fact that they'll play him for the last two games of the season, he'll be picked by boneheed McLaren and 15 minutes into his first game with England the replacement cruciate (they either use the end of your hamstring or a cut from the centre of the patella ligament) will either rupture or he'll get tackled from behind and break his ankle, damaging all the ligaments in it at the same time.

I know what they use, I've have a replacement myself. His cruciate ligament should cope with professional football now. Of course there is a risk to get injured. But that's not only down to him playing for England. He might as well get crocked up by a typical clumsy Moore tackle in training (if latter was fit for a change..).

Wasn't aimed at you wolfy, just making sure a few of our lesser enlightened members weren't left out.

And fuck of course it should be fine but you just know he'll play two games for us, a couple for Ingerland and then be crocked for another season. And what the fuck has moore got to do with it, they have more chance of falling over each other in their rush to the treatment room than in training.

 

The fact that Isegrim thinks that Moore is a no use dirty bastard probably?

 

It's just that I don't get all the fear of him (necessarily) getting injured when he is playing for England again. Medically he should be fine. If he wasn't, then he should not even be involved in full training.

 

So, if he gets injured again, then it is simply down to bad luck, when- and wherever the injury happens. It is as likely that he gets injured for England as happening on the training ground (involving one of our own players). And there is also the risk of him falling down some stairs. We should make sure that he isn't climbing any stairs until the start of next season.

[sammynb 3655]

It's just that I don't get all the fear of him (necessarily) getting injured when he is playing for England again. Medically he should be fine. If he wasn't, then he should not even be involved in full training.

 

So, if he gets injured again, then it is simply down to bad luck, when- and wherever the injury happens. It is as likely that he gets injured for England as happening on the training ground (involving one of our own players). And there is also the risk of him falling down some stairs. We should make sure that he isn't climbing any stairs until the start of next season.

It's not that simple is it?

We all know the chances of him injuring himself are greater if he is playing competitive games for his country than if he is walking down the stairs but the added fact that he won't be match fit if he does play in the Euro games increases it even further.

Maybe it's that slight feeling of being ripped off. We all know Owen really only chose to join Newcastle so he would be first choice and be playing enough games to be selected for England and in the end he's played so little for us and still been able to maintain his national team selection.

[Kid Dynamite 7336]

With nothing left to play for this season id not play him and work on getting him to 110percent for next season.

[MrMiyagi 0]

With nothing left to play for this season id not play him and work on getting him to 110percent for next season.

 

But then the early games next season he'd have zero competitive match practice for over a year. Providing he is 100% healed, then giving him a run out in these last few games can surely be nothing other than good.

[Ketsbaia 0]

No point in paying him £110,000 a week to sit in the stands when he's fighting fit. Get him playing, let him and Martins begin to forge a partnership.