By Matt Jones
November 30 2005

Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has revealed how his recent injury problems which have inturrupted the start of his Magpies' career have left him frustrated.

The 25-year-old who signed from Real Madrid for £17m in August, will miss tonight Carling Cup fourth round trip to Wigan with a torn groin muscle, having already missed Newcastle's previous too outings to Chelsea and Everton.

In both of these games which Owen has missed, the Magpies have failed to score.  And when he has been fit, Owen netted four goals in six games.  Something which Newcastle United clearly miss.

On the matter, Owen said: "I don't want to miss any Newcastle United games. I want to play in them all if I can, and the fact that I have now missed three on the trot leaves me both frustrated and disappointed.

"But there has not been much I can do about it. When I pulled up the day before we went to Chelsea, we were hoping it was only a pull in my groin, but it turned out that there is a slight tear.

"I was told it would take two to three weeks to heal. Well, the two weeks are up on Friday and I have a chance of playing against Aston Villa, but the worst case scenario is that I will be ready for Arsenal a week on Saturday.

"Before this latest setback, I don't think I have been injured for about three years and fingers crossed, my hamstring problems are all behind me.

"In the season I was with Real Madrid, I think I was only not available for selection on one occasion, and that was because I had the flu."