Allardyce opens Owen talks

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has met striker Michael Owen face-to-face for the first time since his appointment.

It is understood the pair held talks at the England B team hotel on Wednesday evening as Owen prepared for tonight’s friendly against Albania at Turf Moor.

Allardyce interrupted his holiday to talk to Owen, whose future on Tyneside has been the topic of intense speculation in recent weeks, and midfielder Kieron Dyer.

The 27-year-old striker was away in Ireland when Allardyce was unveiled at St James’ Park after meeting those members of the squad still around in the north-east, and sent his apologies.

However, the pair have since spoken by telephone and have now had a chance to open discussions over the way forward.

Owen will play his first game for his country tonight since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the World Cup finals clash with Sweden in Cologne in June last year.

He spent 10 months on the sidelines fighting his way back to full fitness and managed to play in his club’s last three games of a difficult season.

Owen, Newcastle’s record signing when he joined from Real Madrid in a £17m (€25m) move in August 2005, has managed only 14 appearances to date following knee and metatarsal injuries, although he scored seven goals in his first 10 starts.

However, talk of a get-out clause in his contract has sparked rumours that he could be available for as little as £9m (€13.3m) this summer, and with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool said to be among those monitoring his situation, an air of uncertainty surrounds him.