No fairytale return for Owen as Kitson kills off Magpies

MICHAEL OWEN finally made his long-awaited comeback but the England striker’s presence could not prevent Newcastle slipping to defeat.

All eyes were on Owen, who has been out for 10 months since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in last summer’s World Cup, but it was Reading marksman Dave Kitson who buried Seol Ki-Hyeon’s cross in the 50th minute to clinch the Royals’ third straight victory.

A cool seventh-minute finish also saw Owen put the ball in the net but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Owen completed the match and did not look too far off the pace to soften the blow of more injury problems for Glenn Roeder.

Antoine Sibierski withdrew in the second half with a suspected broken arm and Emre was stretchered off.

Shola Ameobi, out since November, replaced Sibierski.

Reading had a penalty shout turned down when Titus Bramble sent Kevin Doyle tumbling but referee Mike Riley waved play on.

Doyle then fired inches wide after a poor clearance from keeper Steve Harper and moments later defender Michael Duberry blazed over the bar.

Dyer fired wide shortly into the second half but Reading then pounced for the winner when Seol’s floated cross fell perfectly for Kitson , who rifled home in emphatic style.

READING: Hahnemann, De la Cruz, Ingimarsson, Duberry, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon, Gunnarsson (Harper 90), Oster (Bikey 90), Hunt, Doyle, Kitson (Long 89).

NEWCASTLE: Harper, Solano, Bramble, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Emre (N’Zogbia 60), Dyer, Sibierski (Ameobi 54), Owen, Martins.

Referee: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

Bank of Scotland Premier League: St Mirren 0 Dunfermline 1.