Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Owen boost for Magpies

12 Feb 2007 - 17:14:52

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Newcastle United have been boosted by the news that Michael Owen has stepped up his return from serious knee ligament damage by running for the first time.

The England striker was photographed being put through his paces at the club's training ground for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate knee ligament during last summer's World Cup.

Owen, 27, underwent surgery in America last year and remains hopeful of returning to action before the end of the current campaign.

So far, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid marksman has refused to put a timescale on his return but the news will come as a welcome boost for Magpies boss Glenn Roeder whose plans this season have been wrecked by a succession of injuries to key players.

Owen has made just ten Premiership starts for the Magpies since arriving at St James' Park for £16million in August 2005.