Source: Telegraph
Newcastle's Michael Owen working hard to help relegation fight
The Newcastle United skipper and his young family have been joined on the Algarve by fitness guru John Green who is trying to accelerate Owen's return to front line Premier League duties following an ankle injury. [LNB]Owen 29, has been granted permission by caretaker manager Chris Hughton to head off the warmer climes with his wife and three children and has been accompanied by former West Ham physio Green. [LNB]The England international has been put through his paces every morning this week from 8am by Green following by another punishing workout in the gym at 4pm. [LNB]Green is well known to Owen having helped him recover from the serious knee injury that he sustained at the 2006 World Cup after the pair were introduced by Newcastle's then manager Glenn Roeder. [LNB]The 29-year-old Owen, whose four-year Newcastle contract expires this summer, is currently out of action due to an ankle injury he sustained last month in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. [LNB]Despite his fitness problems, Owen still remains vitally important to the Newcastle cause and is still the relegation-threatened club's leading scorer this term with 10 goals to his credit. [LNB]Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has revealed that he expects to leave hospital this weekend following a triple heart bypass operation. [LNB] "I'm feeling good and hope to be out of here Sunday," Kinnear, 62, said in a text message. [LNB]Despite his sunny disposition, doctors have told Kinnear, who had a heart attack ten years ago, that he will not be able to return to work for at least two months. [LNB]Kinnear has, however, told close friends that he remains determined to complete the task of keeping Newcastle up – an achievement that will reportedly earn him a £1 million bonus. [LNB]
