If I may, I'd like to to borrow from the self-obsessed RnB artist Craig David. Michael Owen, he was playing against Chelsea on Sunday, rated as 50-50 on Wednesday, not playing by Thursday.....
Obviously this would sound a lot better with music but after days of speculation, Newcastle United's recording signing, speaking during a trip to Newmarket to watch the races - does he ever do anything else with his spare time? - has confirmed he will not be playing against Chelsea this weekend.
Wow, there's a shock, I didn't see that one coming, given the fact he wasn't deemed to be fit enough to play in a reserve game against Middlesbrough earlier in the week! No competitive matches, no run-outs for the second string. Yep, everything looked in place for a comeback against the reigning champions, honest!
So now Newcastle fans will have to wait to see the £17m man in action, enduring another week of 'will he, won't he' speculation, denials from manager Glenn Roeder, followed by vague suggestions from Newcastle's manager that he could play against a Reading side who will probably finish above the Magpies this season. Oh dear.
Fun and games of a rather tedious variety, but then again, when you've got nothing to play for other than points and pride, the return of an expensive star player is about all there is to get excited about it!
It's probably for the best anyway. A comeback against Chelsea would not have been the best game to play in 12 months after your last appearance for your club, an half-an-hour run out against Birmingham City.
Mind you, if you thought the stories about whether Owen will play in this game or the next were a little repetitive, just wait until the summer when you will get constant speculation that the England striker is leaving the club, followed by adamant denials from Newcastle that he isn't, followed by "insider" stories that he is, followed by "insider" stories that he isn't, followed by "I'm flattered to be linked......" I'm sure you get the picture.
What we need is for Michael, speaking at a racecourse or not, to confirm that he is not interested in leaving Newcastle and will definitely still be at St James's Park next season.
Not that it will do anything to stop people insisting all summer that he will be sold to Manchester United of course, but it would be nice to hear him say it nonetheless.
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