Liverpool return not Real option for Owen

Michael Owen has ruled out making an early return to Liverpool from Real Madrid.

Reports over the weekend claimed that Liverpool were considering making a move to bring Owen back to Anfield after his summer move to Madrid.

Owen has struggled to establish himself in the Madrid side this season and is still to get off the mark for his new club.

“I am aware of what is being said about me in this country and it is upsetting that people are not more supportive,” Owen said.

“I thought we were meant to be encouraging our top players to take on the challenge of proving themselves abroad.

“I heard there was talk over the weekend about me coming back to Liverpool. Give me a chance. I have only been in Spain for six league matches. And I have never been the quitting type.”

Owen is also unconcerned over talk that his England place is under threat because of his lack of action at club level.

The Real Madrid man is doubtful for the game with Wales this weekend with a muscle injury, but he is confident that when fit he warrants his place in the England side.

“My place in the England team is also under scrutiny. It is not really my place to write down the reasons why I think I should stay in the team,” added Owen in his Times of London column.

“All I would say is that I have a record of scoring in big games and big tournaments.

“All I can do is hope to get fit by Thursday and, if I am, no one can say that I lack match practice.

“I must have played more this season than Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell.”

Meanwhile, Txiki Begiristain, Barcelona’s sporting director, claims the under-fire striker deserves more support from within the Bernabeu.

Begiristain reacted to Madrid’s Fernando Morientes, who claimed Owen’s arrival at Madrid was at the wish of club president Florentino Perez.

“Owen is one of the president’s signings and he’ll be happy with him,” Morientes said at a Madrid press conference.

Begiristain, in a television interview, was asked about Morientes’ comments which were seen as a direct criticism of Owen.

He said: “(Fernando) Morientes should not say that Owen is a signing of the president because he is a team-mate and should be helping him and not thinking that he is the signing of one person or the other – this is not the fault of Owen.”

Owen made his first home start for Madrid on Sunday but was hauled off after 52 minutes and replaced by Morientes as Deportivo La Coruna won 1-0 at the Bernabeu.