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Blog on the Tyne is dedicated to bring Toon fans everywhere the most up to date NUFC views, opinions and comment.

The author Lee Ryder, proudly born and bred on Tyneside, has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.

From the high octane atmosphere of St James' Park to the Premiership grounds up and down the country and into Europe - this Blog has been there.

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Blog on the Tyne is also proud to be there to witness the future of the club with regular coverage of Newcastle United's reserve side, as well as all things black and white.

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Give us a break Mac!

Posted by Lee on April 11, 2007 8:48 AM | Permalink

Michael Owen may well be back on track from injury which is great news for all concerned at NEWCASTLE UNITED.

Owen played 75 minutes in a behind closed doors friendly against Gretna with the £17million striker scoring in his first game back since shattering his knee at the World Cup in Germany for England.

Yet isn't it about time people gave him a bit of time to pull on the black and white shirt before talking about England again?

Owen will no doubt be keen to get back to international duty at some stage but the worst fear for many Toon fans is he comes back for the June Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia and gets hurt again.

And if it could happen to anyone it will be to Newcastle.

The plan for Glenn Roeder between now and the end of the season will surely be to give Owen a taste of life back at St James' Park again with a view to an untroubled campaign next term.

And for many people at Newcastle, chucking the hopes and fears of a whole nation and Steve McClaren on to Owen's shoulders in a high octane and pressure cooker game in Estonia doesn't exactly fit in to his careful comeback schedule.

True, McClaren is amazingly just games away from the boot with England and Owen can help get him out of trouble.

But isn't the whole England situation the main reason why Newcastle are in such a disappointing state in their own domestic campaign.

Don't forget this season was always going to be hard with the retirement of Alan Shearer and the summer injury to Owen made that task even harder.

It also meant that funds kept aside for a top class defender or two had to be spent on Oba Martins with Shola Ameobi on his last legs at the start of the season, Shearer retired and Owen on crutches.

Let's be honest if England cannot beat Estonia without Owen, then this country really has gone to the dogs.

And do you really give two hoots about how England do at the Euros next summer if it means another season like this one?

Surely the England boss can use some of his skill and know-how to get through a sticky patch without jeopardising Newcastle's hopes any longer.

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Comments (6)

Ian Teasdale wrote...

Owen shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence as England till he has finished the rest of the season with Newcastle and had a bit of a rest over the summer. I'm sure he needs recuperation during the summer, because i'm sure his rehabilitation has been a long and tiring one.
Can you imagine the headlines if he play's a couple of games for us, play's for England and breaks down again because he's been pushed too hard too soon.
I'm sure he will know when he's ready but if he gets injured on duty for England it will take a lot of forgiving.

Posted by: Ian Teasdale | April 11, 2007 3:33 PM

andy wrote...

surely this completely ignores the fact that the reason he signed for newcastle in the first place was to get match fit for england. He is universally referred to as englands michael owen-unlike other players-and that reflects his priority.

Posted by: andy | April 11, 2007 11:53 PM

Dave Russell wrote...

It's a joke - Owens priority is him, England, Liverpool then Newcastle!

Just watch him run if Roeder remains manager!!!

Posted by: Dave Russell | April 12, 2007 10:33 PM

oxboy wrote...

It is all too familiar.
Owen out injured for a long time, plays a handful of minutes for the toon then goes off to play for England when not properly fit.
Its groundhog day and this is becoming a rerun of last year.

Posted by: oxboy | April 13, 2007 9:17 AM

Chris Finlay wrote...

If we're worried about him playing for England and getting injured then lets not play him until next season so if England come knocking, we can tell them where to go!!.

Its not like we have anything to play for this season, so lets get him properly fit and fitter than he has been, with a good summer and pre season behind him, and have him ready to go for the start of next season!

Posted by: Chris Finlay | April 14, 2007 9:56 PM

marty wrote...

I'd be very surprised if Owen plays for us next season. Once we have got him fit, he'll leave. It would be great to have him playing for us regularly, but that just seems a pipe dream. The Micheal Owen saga needs to be sorted, and on his fitness record, i'd sell him.

Posted by: marty | April 15, 2007 11:10 AM