Owen in starting line-up - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Owen in starting line-up

Newcastle's Michael Owen has been named in the starting line-up against Reading for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury playing for England at last summer's World Cup.

Roeder had been able to use Owen just once before, bringing him on as a second-half substitute against Birmingham in April last year.

Losing the 27-year-old for virtually the entire season has been a bitter blow for Newcastle, who expected him to be their main goalscorer in a campaign when their squad has been ravaged by injury.

The £10million capture of Obafemi Martins has proven a success, with the Nigerian firing 17 goals so far, but Owen's record of seven strikes in 12 appearances for the Magpies underlined his importance.

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