Owen comeback won't be rushed, vows Shepherd

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd insists he has no desire to prevent Michael Owen from playing for England.

However, the Magpies supremo will not allow the 27-year-old to represent his country until he is fully fit after seeing his club battle to get Owen back on the field following his metatarsal fracture in time for last summer’s World Cup finals, only to end up on the operating table once again.