Friedel out to blunt Owen goal threat

Standing between Michael Owen scoring his first goal for Newcastle is his former team-mate Brad Friedel, who leads a defence with the Barclays Premiership’s toughest reputation.

Friedel, the 34-year-old who has just signed a three-year-contract at Ewood Park, started his career in the Premiership at Liverpool when Michael Owen was emerging as the striker to lead England’s attack for the next decade.