Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

Owen takes aim at critics

30 Sep 2009 - 09:29:31

Click To Enlarge

Michael Owen has hit back at suggestions that he is not the player he once was and has declared that he is determined to win back his England place.

Owen, 29, joined Manchester United in the summer after four injury-plagued seasons with Newcastle United.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker was expected to win back his international place while playing in the Old Trafford spotlight and Owen has responded with two goals from eight club appearances - six of which has been as a substitute.

But following suggestions that he is not as good a player as he was earlier in his career, Owen has hit back at his critics.

"I am not slower now than I was seven, eight years ago. No chance," he told The Times.

"With the hamstring problems early in my career, they knocked a yard off my pace straightaway, but since then I have been the same player and if anything I have improved.

"Game awareness is a good word for it. A lot of it is so instinctive it's hard to put down. It is your experience taking you into areas. You think, 'Would I have moved there as a kid, would I have anticipated that?'

"People think I'm past my thirties, I'm in my forties, the way they talk about me. I'm only 29. I'm not past it.

"It's not an easy (England) squad to get into with the results the team are getting at the minute. But I'm as passionate as ever about extending my time with England."

Meanwhile, Owen has revealed he has not discussed his omission from the England squad with head coach Fabio Capello.

He added: "Capello has never talked to me about the situation. I met him after the Community Shield. I was getting on to the coach. He was coming down to get in his car to leave. He was there with (assistant) Franco Baldini.

"Franco saw me and gave me the thumbs up. I walked over and shook both of their hands.

"Franco said, 'How are you? Are you feeling fit?' I said, 'Yeah, yeah, I'm feeling fine.' 'Good luck, we'll keep watching you.' That's the only contact."