Owen smiles better but hard works starts here

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Owen is set to return to Premier League action with Newcastle against Everton tomorrow, just nine days after undergoing an operation in Germany.

Taking the Michael: Owen shares a joke on his return to Newcastle training yesterday

The player was involved in a full training session yesterday morning with his Newcastle teammates, giving Steve McClaren a major boost ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 Group E double-header, which begins next weekend.

But Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce believes the problem could resurface unless the forward undertakes a complete new training programme.

Owen has barely played since moving back to England from Real Madrid more than two years ago and the concerns are such over his ability to play a significant amount of matches that an individual fitness regime will be put in place for the 27-year-old.

"Does the operation mean the end of Michael's groin problem? No," said Allardyce. "It is a lot, lot stronger now but like most players, they have to spend a lot more time than before on precaution policies.

"The strengthening work he will have to do will have to become a religious part of his life if he wants to continue as a footballer capable of playing 30, 40 or 50 games a season.

"At the moment, 20 games running is something Michael Owen can aim for. What we are trying to do is work towards that. Most of that comes from a lot of hard work Michael is going to have to do, besides the day-to-day stuff we do here.

"The same situation could arise again and the last thing I want is Michael coming back with the same scenario as last time — it got to the point where we had to take him out and then address it."

It's a Catch-22 scenario: too many games cause Owen to break down and yet Newcastle and England are keen to have the striker available as often as possible.

Allardyce added: "This problem certainly arose by playing those two games for England after he played for us against Wigan.

"That's the start of where we are now. That process is coming up again and that's extremely difficult for us and Michael and for Steve McClaren to manage.

"We have to tell the England camp what the situation is. If Michael comes through fit for us, then he's fit for England."