Braveheart Owen Has Big Sam VERY Worried!

Asked if he would need to be careful if he played for England against Estonia on Saturday, he told Sky Sports News:

Owen: "Not at all.

"No doubt the manager from here will say that and maybe the fans will say that but if I had to look after myself, I wouldn't have made myself available for today.

"The surgeon's advice is what I'll look at more than anything else and she said that I can push it as hard as I want - it's stronger now than it was before the operation.

"To play a game eight days after surgery - I've still got the stitches in - I've put in a lot of hard work.

"I was disappointed not to start, I've been training fully since Thursday

"I've not missed much training and I felt ready to start but the manager obviously wanted to leave me out and bring me on from the bench."

Allardyce: "I haven't spoken to Steve about that yet. I need to speak to him privately regarding that situation and see what he thinks, and it is the same with Alan Smith.

"I have to be very protective regarding Michael Owen, that's why I did not start him because he has got to be eased back into it.

"For me, it is about making sure that every game Newcastle United play, he is available to be selected.

"Me using my experience in that area, it is about trying to get him to be available consistently from now on and scoring goals."