Macdonald backs Magpies' court threat over Owen

Ex-Newcastle and England striker Malcolm Macdonald insists his former club are “warranted” in their threat to go to court to prevent Michael Owen playing in June’s crucial European Championship qualifier against Estonia.

Owen is at the centre of a bitter dispute between the Barclays Premiership club and the Football Association over compensation for the knee injury the 27-year-old suffered at last summer’s World Cup.