Owen all clear after injury scare

MICHAEL OWEN should be fit to play in England’s B international against Albania on May 25 despite suffering mild concussion in Newcastle’s 1-1 draw at Watford.

The 27-year-old striker was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with team-mate Matthew Pattison in the 65th minute, but Newcastle caretaker-manager Nigel Pearson said: “I saw him in the medical room after the game. He was chatting, and there is no problem at all.

“He has mild concussion, but it is nothing too serious and he is fine.”

Relegated Watford earned a point thanks to Marlon King’s 52nd-minute penalty after Kieron Dyer had given Newcastle a first-half lead, but it was Owen’s departure in the 67th minute which was the talking point.

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, in the final game of his two-year loan spell before his return to Manchester United, was replaced by Alec Chamberlain in stoppage time to grant the England international a standing ovation which left him in tears.

Opta Fact: If the season had started on March 1, Newcastle would have been relegated and Watford would have survived.

WATFORD: Foster (Chamberlain 90), Mariappa, Doyley, Shittu, Stewart, Rinaldi, Bangura, Williamson, Smith (Robinson 87), King, Hoskins (Henderson 56).

NEWCASTLE: Given, Solano (Onyewu 59), Ramage, Taylor, Carr, Milner, Butt, Dyer, Pattison, Owen (O’Brien 67), Ameobi (Carroll 62).

Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).