Owen looks at bigger picture

Michael Owen could opt to miss the final games of the season even if he is fit to return for Newcastle before their campaign finishes.

The 27-year-old has not started running following his cruciate knee injury at the World Cup last year and is wary of targeting a comeback date for England before he has played for Newcastle.

It means he remains a doubt for England’s clash in Estonia, their final European qualifier before a summer break.

“Obviously I’ve got to play for my club before then, that’s a decision for later,” said Owen on the possibility of returning to face Estonia.

“I haven’t thought about what game or anything like that.”

Owen was injured in June against Sweden and has visited Dr Richard Steadman for treatment on his knee.

The former Liverpool striker believes it could be more beneficial to continue his rehabilitation rather than play in the final games of the season, particularly if Newcastle have nothing little to play for.

He explained: “If I’m fit to play in the last one or two games of the season it might be wise to continue with my strength programme and maybe play a couple of games behind closed doors.

“I haven’t started running yet, that’s the next step and if it goes well then it’ll be onwards and upwards.

“No-one has said I can’t play this season and it gives me hope and belief. If I don’t it’ll be next season.

“The plan is to run in the next week or two. I could probably run now but when it is time to run I don’t want to be thinking twice about it.”

Plenty has happened since Owen’s injury, with David Beckham standing down as England captain and then getting dropped from the squad after Steve McClaren took over from Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Beckham, Owen’s former team-mate at Real Madrid, has backed the former England skipper in his latest move to America.

“I went over to Los Angeles on pre-season tour when I played with him at Real Madrid, against LA Galaxy and we beat them 2-1,” said Owen, speaking at the launch of the Umbro Evolution X Boot III.

“It was a fantastic city, a lovely place and you could see the attraction of going to live there – it’s English speaking and a fantastic place to go on holiday or live.

“Everyone wishes him well, he’s been a fantastic servant to English football.”