Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Magpies chief warns Owen

10 May 2007 - 08:13:57

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Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd has warned Michael Owen that he owes the club and its fans for their patience following speculation that the England striker is looking to quit St James' Park.

The injury-plagued striker has played just 13 games for the Magpies since his £16million transfer from Real Madrid in summer 2005.

Owen made his comeback from ten months on the sidelines with knee ligament damage against Reading on April 30.

But with rumours circulating that the former Liverpool marksmen could be bought out of his Newcastle contract for as little as £9million in the summer, Shepherd has warned Owen that he owes the club some loyalty.

Manchester United and Liverpool have been linked with summer raids on St James' Park for the 27-year-old.

"These suggestions will not impress our fans after what has happened in the last couple of years," Shepherd told the Daily Express.

"This report was a very thinly-disguised attempt to flog Owen from under our feet, sourced very close to the player or those who look after him. The information must have come from there, not from our club.

"I'm telling Michael he has two choices: he either comes out and tells our fans, who have taken him to their hearts, that he is happy here - or I tell him that not one of the big four clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool are interested in him. Because that's the case.

"The loyalty this club has shown him over the last two years, when he had injury problems in his first season and had missed virtually all of this season, deserves something in return.

"He has had a really serious injury and no-one, least of all one of the biggest clubs, is likely to take a risk at this stage.

"He has to prove to everyone, himself and Newcastle United included, that he is fully recovered and not about to break down again."