Michael Owen reveals his nightmare at Newcastle

Michael Owen has spoken for the first time about how he went from saint to sinner during a nightmare spell at Newcastle that threatened to wreck his career.

At the age of 28, the man who was once one of the most prolific strikers in the world is looking to repair his reputation with Manchester United after being rescued from the prospect of life amongst football's dead men by Sir Alex Ferguson.

As he linked up with his new team-mates in Malaysia on the first leg of United's two-week pre-season tour of the Far East, Owen wore the steely-eyed look of a footballer with something to prove as he contemplated the prospect of Premier League titles and Champions League medals.

And he admits his hunger has been sharpened by a disastrous three-year spell at St James' Park that saw the club's £18million record signing labelled an injury-prone has-been as he suffered the final humiliation of relegation.

It was a dramatic fall from grace for a player whose clean-cut image and reputation as a model professional once saw him nicknamed St Michael.

Owen, who scored the winner in United's 3-2 win over Malaysia yesterday, said: "I know my reputation as a footballer and as a professional suffered at Newcastle.

"I'd never try to shirk my share of the blame for the club being relegated. I played 33 games last season and I know I could have done a lot better.

"But some of the criticism that was levelled at me was bordering on the ridiculous.

"I tried to understand it, but if you step back and analyse some of the things being said about me then you would realise how crazy it all was.

"The bottom line is that if you don't play well, if you don't score, if you don't win, you become a target even if you do the most trivial of things.

"I'd take an helicopter to fly home to see my kids once a week and people would criticise me for not concentrating on my job at Newcastle.

"If you're not doing well on the pitch then people look at you and think that you are wrong to have any kind of interests outside of football. If I am scoring goals, none of what I do outside of the game is a problem to anyone. If I am scoring goals then people tell me that I'm a good lad, a great footballer and a model professional.

"If you fly home in a helicopter to see your wife and three kids when you are scoring goals then you're a nice family man who is thoughtful because you have business interests outside of the game to safeguard your future. If you're not scoring goals and playing well then little things like seeing your family become a problem.

"Suddenly people say 'who the hell does that Michael Owen think he is?'

"Innocent little things become a problem when you're not doing well on the pitch. That's when you become a bad footballer and someone who's not a model pro anymore."

Owen says that he never lost faith in his ability to perform at the highest level.

He bristles at suggestions that there was a dearth of big clubs willing to take a chance on him after his injury-plagued time in the North East.

But he is aware Fergie would not have come calling had United not lost out to Real Madrid in the race to sign French striker Karim Benzema from Lyon.

Owen said: "There were clubs who linked themselves with me just so they could give their fans something to talk about.

"But there were also good clubs that made their interest known without it being made public. Yes, managers ignored me and didn't think I could get back to my best. I do have some strong feelings about that.

"But the bottom line is that the one man in world football who I would want to have a good opinion of me wanted to sign me. If Sir Alex Ferguson thinks I am good enough for Manchester United that's all that matters.

"He did mention he wanted to sign Benzema, but I don't care whether I was his first choice or 100th choice."

Owen added: "Coming here can only help me rediscover my best form because I am playing with world-class players all over the pitch.

"It's clicked straight away for me in training and I now feel like I did eight years ago.

"I see someone like Wayne Rooney or Paul Scholes receive the ball and I know straight away what kind of run they want me to make.

"When United came in for me I thought about the players I'd be alongside, playing at Old Trafford in a team that you know will create chances.

"Then I went to bed and when I woke up the next morning it really hit me.

"I thought 'hell I can win a league title here and play in the Champions League.

"Let's just say that I am a very excited young man."

sport@sundaymirror.co.uk

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