Owen a Doubt for Chelsea

By Nick Raynor
April 17 2007

After months on the sidelines, Michael Owen's possible comeback against Chelsea this weekend has been put on hold.

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Owen was expected to feature in the reserves tonight to play against Middlesbrough, but has been told not to play, which is a precuationary measure.

Owen signed for Newcastle for £17 million from Real Madrid in August 2005, but has barely played for the Magpies after breaking his foot on New Years. Then, after coming back just in time for the 2006 World Cup, Owen damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and has not played since.

He did however, make a comeback recently in a behind closed doors friendly against Gretna, where he scored and set up another.

And with the Chelsea game in 5 days, if Owen cannot prove his fitness for a reserve game, it is unlikely he will start.

Owen is keen to get back to match fitness, and some beleive this is more so he can play for England in the summer, not for Newcastle.

The striker was also linked with a £12 million move to Manchester United in the summer, a rumour which Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder quashed.

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