Lay off Owen, says Shearer

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Toon fans question Owen's priorities but Shearer said: 'He wants to play for England and I don't see the crime in that. I don't understand where the criticism's coming from.

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Opposite views: Owen and Allardyce have fallen out

'Why is it such a crime to first of all get back to playing for Newcastle and then England? He's frustrated by all this but he's a tough lad.'

Owen returned injured after England's double-header with Israel and Russia last month and was not handed a starting role in Newcastle's last Premier League game with Everton.

Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce warned that the player needed to be monitored before Saturday's victory over Estonia but Owen insisted that he was 100 per cent fit and started the game.

His relationship with Allardyce has foundered as a consequence.

That Owen has now started more games for England than he has started league games for Newcastle since moving from Madrid more than two years ago is causing increasing angst among the club's fans.

Owen's contract clause will allow him to leave for £6million next summer and there may be the temptation to cash in on a player who will not be cup-tied for European football when the transfer window opens in January.

Manchester City have had Owen watched recently and Sven Goran Eriksson is a huge fan.