Newcastle United Football Club News

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

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

Roeder optimistic on duo

23 Apr 2007 - 10:49:37

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Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder has hinted that Michael Owen may be fit enough to feature in the Premiership fixture against Reading.

There had been hopes that the England international, who has been sidelined for ten months after suffering a horrendous injury during last summer's World Cup finals, would return to action against Chelsea.

However, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid was not deemed fit enough to play in the goalless draw at St James' Park after a minor groin injury also forced him to pull out of a reserve team game against Middlesbrough's second string last week.

Roeder said: "Michael Owen doesn't need to be in a friendly. We may have an 11 v 11 between ourselves on the training ground, but the next time we see Michael it will be in a competitive game.

"When he returns, it's important that he's 100 per cent fully-fit.

"He's got a full eight days to the Reading game and we'll certainly know by the middle to end of the week whether he'll make that.

"Shola (Ameobi) is going to play in the reserves at Bolton and I'm hoping he'll be fit for the Reading game.

"With Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi working with Oba Martins and me strengthening the teams in the right areas, we'll be where we ought to be next year."