Owen injury is last straw for the Toon

The fact that Owen's injury was caused by a team-mate simply provided the final chapter to the tragicomedy of Newcastle's season.

Scroll down to read more:

Matty Pattison's shoulder made contact with Owen's head in the 65th minute, sending the unfortunate striker to the floor. Hardly the kind of thing watching England manager Steve McClaren wanted ahead of the B international against Albania on May 25.

But Newcastle caretaker boss Nigel Pearson revealed that Owen had suffered only a mild case of concussion.

It is not too serious but he will have a headache in the morning,' he said. It wasn't the best game but on the back of a difficult week for everyone it was important the players went out with the right attitude.'

McClaren will have learned little about Owen's readiness to carry England's scoring hopes in Euro 2008, such was the dearth of service to him.

The hope among Newcastle fans will be that the appointment of Sam Allardyce as manager this week will be enough to convince Owen to stay. As for the rest, the clear-out will begin once the ex-Bolton boss gets started.

The futures of Titus Bramble, Kieron Dyer and even Obafemi Martins have all been cast into doubt. The Nigeria striker, who cost £10million from Inter Milan, apparently declared himself unfit on the eve of the game.

nother whose days are numbered at St James' Park is Charles N'Zogbia after he stormed out of Vicarage Road before kick-off upon learning his place had been handed to Pattison.

Pearson said: Charles was on the bench originally and I changed that because he didn't really want to be there. I have got no idea if he stayed in the stadium to watch the game.'

Pearson, along with back-room staff Terry McDermott and Lee Clark, are expected to keep their jobs despite Glenn Roeder's resignation last week.

But of far more concern to Newcastle fans than the comings and goings behind the scenes will surely be the future of Owen.

Geordie fans who made the trip yesterday did at least see their side score for the first time in five hours, 20 minutes when Dyer latched on to Nolberto Solano's through ball, after a slip by Watford midfielder Lee Williamson, to score.

The goal apart there was little else for the Toon Army to cheer. Watford fared little better, managing only a couple of half-chances, skied by Marlon King and Tommy Smith. But thanks to a dubious handball decision by referee Rob Styles, they were handed a route back into the game after the restart.

Styles adjudged that Nicky Butt used his arm to block Adrian Mariappa's cross, but it is difficult to understand what more the midfielder could have done to get out of the way. King slotted home the penalty and it briefly brought a sense of urgency to Watford's play.

Douglas Rinaldi was unlucky to see his drive from distance fly just wide, while Williamson missed with an effort, too.

Home fans gave their player of the season, Ben Foster, a fitting send-off after his heroics this season. The keeper is on his way back to Manchester United after two seasons on loan and was substituted in the dying moments to chants of England's No 1'.

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd said: The miss at the end summed up our season. Lots of effort and integrity — and then a steward gets hit with the ball.'