Big Sam happy despite stalemate

Aug 19 2007 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE and England fans were last night warned it will be up to six games before they see the best of Michael Owen.

United boss Sam Allardyce’s realistic appraisal of Owen’s match fitness came after the striker struggled on his comeback from injury for the Magpies.

Owen got 27 minutes under his belt as a second-half substitute for the injured Obafemi Martins against a dogged Aston Villa.

But his performance prompted Allardyce to urge England coach Steve McClaren to use him sparingly as a substitute in this week’s friendly against Germany.

Otherwise, Big Sam remained in bullish mood, despite admitting Newcastle had lacked inspiration against Villa.

“It could be four, five or possibly six games until we see a sharp Michael Owen,” said Allardyce, mindful of McClaren’s lack of striking options ahead of next month’s Euro 2008 qualifiers.

“If Steve gives him some part in the Germany match, it will be a great help, but he’s not ready to start that game.”

Allardyce added: “Today was frustrating. Continuing from where we left off at Bolton was what we wanted, but we found it difficult from an attacking point of view to break down a solid defence.

“But the clean sheet makes me very, very happy. Giving goals away when we were in a position to win the game was a particular problem here last year.

“Four points from two games is a good start. We’ve quite a way to go, because we saw Villa match us today, but we’ve got a lot of players with good experience to come back.

“Michael Owen was back today, but isn’t really there and Joey Barton and Damien Duff are to come back.

“Had we drawn at Bolton and won today, all you boys would be happy.”

But Allardyce admitted: “Injuries to Martins and Geremi are a bit of a worry to us ahead of the Middlesbrough game next Sunday.”

Meanwhile, Villa boss Martin O’Neill insisted: “We should have won. I felt we were the better side.”