Owen may return for Magpies

Michael Owen could return to action for Newcastle against Everton on Sunday.

The 27-year-old trained with the rest of the squad today just a week after undergoing hernia surgery in Germany to give himself a chance of making England’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia later this month.

Magpies boss Sam Allardyce said: “Michael has done his first training session with the lads this morning, and as long as there is no reaction from that session, then we will look tomorrow morning and ask him how it is.

“If it is fine, he will join us again and he should be fit to be in the squad for us on Sunday, so it is all good news for us from that point of view.”

Owen will be joined in the squad by Brazilian defender Claudio Cacapa, who has shaken off his own groin problem, but midfielder Joey Barton (metatarsal) will have to wait despite his return to action for the reserves in midweek.

Damien Duff (ankle), Peter Ramage (knee) and Stephen Carr and Celestine Babayaro (both hamstring) remain on the injured list.

Provisional squad: Given, Harper, N’Zogbia, Enrique, Rozehnal, Taylor, Cacapa, Faye, Edgar, Beye, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi, Owen.