Dave Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/7162622.stm Owen closing on Newcastle return Newcastle United have confirmed that England striker Michael Owen could return to action before the end of the festive season programme. Owen has not played since tearing a thigh muscle while playing for England against Austria 16 November. But Magpies manager Sam Allardyce has revealed the 28-year-old could feature from the substitutes' bench against either Chelsea or Manchester City. Allardyce said: "He could play soon. We will consider using him sparingly." Newcastle play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, before hosting Manchester City at St James' Park on 2 January. "It is a balance of the fact that he has been out for a number of weeks without any match practice," added Allardyce. "We could see Michael in action, but inbetween the next three games we have no chance to put on a behind-closed-doors game to give him the chance to get the feel of playing in an 11 v 11. "At the end of the day, when fit and given the opportunity to join the squad and make a contribution, with a goalscorer like him, it could be a major one for us." Meanwhile, Magpies winger Damien Duff has admitted the players must take responsibility for the club's poor form. The pressure on Allardyce intensified after his team managed to take just a single point from their matches against struggling Derby and Wigan over Christmas. But the Republic of Ireland international said: "It's a massive club, but you cannot just blame the gaffer. We are the ones out on the pitch, so we are all in it together. "We are right behind him [Allardyce] and we just want to put it right for him. He cannot take all the flak. "We are the ones on the pitch - so don't hammer him, hammer us. The players have to stand up and be counted as well." Kev will be ecstatic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 OMGFUCKINGWIN YAY!1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Hoorah. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 'England striker Michael Owen' That's my favourite bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Good news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Decky Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Good news. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sorry to piss on your chips, closer to return = closer to next injury. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElDiablo Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sorry to piss on your chips, closer to return = closer to next injury. I'm thinking dislocated shoulder next. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzrahog Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 He is going to get fit, stay fit and bang in goals like they are going out of fashion. There is after all a new England gaffa to impress Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I hope he comes back on fire (not literally), we need him firing on all cylinders. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PM Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I hope he comes back on fire (not literally) Probably one of the few injuries he hasn't had yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I hope he comes back on fire (not literally), we need him firing on all cylinders. He needs the rest of the team playing well more than he ever has. Which doesn't bode well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
biggs Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 yes even the return of the prodigal son cannot fill me with any confidence as dave says hes surrounded by shit so it doesnt help. even a depleted chelski team will murder us :-[ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Stephen927 Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 To get him to play well, means to play the ball on the deck, and with two genuine wingers in a 4-4-2. Won't suit this 4-5-1 malarkey. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ally Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I bet he doesn't even touch the ball tomorrow. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Knightrider Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Owen should actually thrive in this team, because he's a scraps type of goal poacher these days. I.e. does fuck all for 85 minutes but likely to put a chance away if one or two come his way. I mean he scored a shit load for England and the service under Sven at times was as shocking as what we're seeing with wor lot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toonlass Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Can we run a sweep stake on how long before his next injury? I predict he will be knackered again on the 21st January. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Knightrider Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Btw had Owen played against derby, I think we'd have won as a lot of balls broke loose inside the box. He'd have tucked one or two of those loose balls away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I hope he comes back on fire (not literally) Probably one of the few injuries he hasn't had yet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 I bet he doesn't even touch the ball tomorrow. Well it'll be quite hard from the bench. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anders Rye Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 Hope he will play Owen and Smith up front, and not Owen Viduka, because Viduka and Owen reminds a lot like each other, they don't move a lot, more like stand and wait. Smith can do the run for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujpest doza Posted December 28, 2007 Share Posted December 28, 2007 TCA will probably play him at centre half though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thespence Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Ashley Cole will failed to get his ban overturned, so the back 4 has 3 of its regulars missing. Mind you the replacement are canny. Oh & then there this Sunderland have held talks with Blackburn midfielder Robbie Savage and hope to buy him for around £1.5million - Various. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbob Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Can we run a sweep stake on how long before his next injury? I predict he will be knackered again on the 21st January. How about a sweepstake on what his next injury will be? I predict a bruised phalange. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 Btw had Owen played against derby, I think we'd have won as a lot of balls broke loose inside the box. He'd have tucked one or two of those loose balls away. As I agreed with someone in the match thread, we would have comfortably beaten Derby had Owen played. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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