Owenly About Time Newcastle United: Although You Are Probably a Bit Late

Michael Owen would have been forgiven for thinking the world had gone mad recently, after countless snubs by Fabio Capello and up until this very morning, NO contract offer from a very desperate Newcastle United.

Owen has been on fire over the last few weeks and scored United’s first in a 3-0 win at Portsmouth this weekend. If I was a manager in the Barclay’s Premier League, I’d be falling over myself to sign a man who has scored 203 goals in 401 career appearances. That’s a goal every two games or 19 goals every Premier League season.

The striker who turned 29 on Sunday (Dec. 14th) has bagged seven goals this season in his 13 top flight appearances, which makes him England’s TOP striker. So please explain Mr Capello? I’d love to know what grudge you hold against him?

This form, despite all the injuries, the fact he plays for a bottom half of the table side and everybody telling him he’s finished. Nine goals in 15 games in all competitions might be finished if we were talking about League Two but no, this is supposedly the best league in the world.

No wonder Newcastle are in a mess, wait I’ll change that, no wonder Newcastle are a mess. They are a whisker from the relegation zone and without Owen’s seven goals, they could easily have been rock bottom. So why on earth was Owen not offered a new deal months ago? Waiting for him to prove himself? What a joke.

In all honesty it is probably too late. What is there to stay for? Newcastle United officials are clearly incapable of running a football club properly and there are plenty of clubs on a steadier footing that would appreciate him more.

As for England, the former European Footballer of the Year has 40 goals in 89 games for his country. It is not good enough for Capello though, he prefers the five goals in 50 appearances from Emile Heskey.

At least when the next squad is named and Owen’s name remains "missing" from proceedings, the over-used catchphrase of "he hasn’t proved he is fit" or "I’m just giving others an opportunity" will finally carry no weight.

Here’s to England’s greatest striker of the 21st century, Michael Owen. You don’t have anything to prove to me.

Don’t be loyal to the Magpies, do what is best for you.