Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

• Ground:St James' Park
• Capacity:52,193

Allardyce fears Owen exit

10 Jun 2007 - 12:37:42

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Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has admitted that Michael Owen could leave St James' Park this summer.

Owen has endured an injury-ravaged two years on Tyneside since his move from Real Madrid and rumours about another possible transfer for the former Liverpool star have resurfaced since he returned to full fitness.

The striker has a release clause believed to be £9million, and Allardyce said: "If Michael wants to leave, there's nothing I can do about it, especially if another club triggers his release clause.

"At the moment, we are benefiting from a release clause to get Joey Barton. But we could also suffer because of Michael's."

Allardyce has already stated his intention to revamp the Newcastle squad by allowing Titus Bramble and Antoine Sibierski to join Wigan Athletic, while Scott Parker has agreed a £7million switch to West Ham United.

Barton is on the verge of moving to the north-east, while Allardyce has already snapped up Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka this summer.

Owen, who scored for England in Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifying success in Estonia, has been restricted to only 14 appearances for the Magpies in his two years on Tyneside.