Owen regrets World Cup decision

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The Newcastle frontman battled against the clock to make himself available for his country that summer after fracturing a metatarsal in a New Year's Eve clash with Tottenham keeper Paul Robinson.

Owen, who suffered a serious knee injury which sidelined him for 10 months during the finals, told the Newcastle-based Journal: "There is no hiding from the fact injuries have been the bane of my time at Newcastle."

He added: "It is frustrating. However, and people will probably laugh, but I know I'm not injury-prone.

"If you look at my time at Newcastle, the problems started when Paul Robinson landed on my foot against Tottenham just after Christmas.

"Loads of people get metatarsal injuries, but they are normally not as bad as mine. Nobody's foot would not have broken in that situation.

"I then rushed my preparations for the World Cup. I played half a game for Newcastle.

"After being in plaster for so long, my leg was de-conditioned and with hindsight, I should never have gone to Germany with England.

"It's easy to say that now, but if I had my time again, I would still have gone because it was a World Cup. I'm not thinking what could have been, but with hindsight, my leg was half as strong as it should have been.

"Muscles support limbs and I twisted my knee awkwardly and that was it. All that came from someone landing on my foot, so I don't think it's my fault."