Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle striker Owen regrets joining England at 2006 World Cup
England striker Michael Owen has admitted he should not have gone to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
The Newcastle frontman battled against the clock to make himself available for his country that summer after fracturing a metatarsal in a New Year's Eve clash with Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson.
He had played just 20 minutes of football for his club before joining up with his international colleagues, and with hindsight, now believes the injury problems which have followed are a direct result of his efforts to play in Germany.
Low point: Owen lies injured during England's draw with Sweden in Cologne
Owen, who suffered a serious knee injury which sidelined him for 10 months during the finals, told the Newcastle-based Journal: 'There is no hiding from the fact injuries have been the bane of my time at Newcastle.
'It is frustrating. However, and people will probably laugh, but I know I'm not injury-prone.
'If you look at my time at Newcastle, the problems started when Paul Robinson landed on my foot against Tottenham just after Christmas.
'Loads of people get metatarsal injuries, but they are normally not as bad as mine. Nobody's foot would not have broken in that situation.
'I then rushed my preparations for the World Cup. I played half a game for Newcastle.
'After being in plaster for so long, my leg was de-conditioned and with hindsight, I should never have gone to Germany with England.
Big finish: The Magpies need Owen for the run-in
'It's easy to say that now, but if I had my time again, I would still have gone because it was a World Cup.
'I'm not thinking what could have been, but with hindsight, my leg was half as strong as it should have been.
'Muscles support limbs and I twisted my knee awkwardly and that was it. All that came from someone landing on my foot, so I don't think it's my fault.'
Owen, now 29, returned from his latest significant injury - ankle ligament damage - in his club's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Hull on Saturday.
Newcastle are hoping he can rediscover his best form almost immediately as they prepare for a nine-game run-in which will determine whether or not they play top flight football next season.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid star, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign and is yet to make a decision on the offer of a new deal, knows it normally takes him a couple of games to find his feet again, but it also banking on a flying start.
He said: 'The one thing I have got a history of is taking one or two games to get into my stride again, but we haven't got time for me to do that.
'Hopefully my eye is in straight away and I start knocking the goals in again immediately.'
