/ David Croft / 21 September 2007 /

The BBC's David Croft tells us why despite the criticism and the injuries, Owen is still one of the very best around

Good news then for Newcastle fans, Michael Owen doesn't need a hernia operation and Sam Allardyce fully expects him to be fit for Sunday's game against West Ham. Not great news then for us Irons who would like Master Owen to put country before club here and have that operation now whether he needs it or not, just in case he won't be fit when the Euro 2008 qualifiers resume.

Call me a pessimist if you wish but he's bound to score on Sunday, after all he has in the two games he's played at St James Park this season. Newcastle by the way are 2.1 with Betfair to beat West Ham on Sunday, a price I won't take as I just can't bring myself to back against the Hammers, but one that's worth bearing in mind when you consider that they haven't conceded a goal in front of their home fans yet this season.

Back to Michael Owen though and like Dolly Parton, he has his knockers! Old gag and I apologise, gags aside though have his critics. I'm not one of them, that goal against Argentina did it for me, still has me drooling 9 years on. But it never ceases to amaze me that there are plenty cueing up to have a pop, the following were comments made to the Daily Telegraph's online pages at the start of August. I found them on a random google search last night

'I'm afraid Owen is far more interested in his Horse Racing now! 
Football just helps out the Bank balance. I'm afraid Newcastle have got a dud. - Paul

Really what good will he be for England? Barely match fit; he'll need a consecutive run of several hard games to get his sharpness back. - Howard

I don't think Owen should be risked. A player should be picked on form and not on yesteryear misty-eyed sentimentality. - Orangina

Excuse me whilst I wipe my sentimental misty eyes here. I know hindsight is a wonderful thing and I'm enjoying the full benefit of it of course. But even before the three goals in two games for England and his brace for Newcastle were the three detractors thinking straight.

Here is a man who made his Liverpool debut at the age of 17 and by the time he'd left scored158 goals in 297 appearances. A striker who stands at number 4 in the all time England list and during a miserable spell at Real Madrid actually managed to fire in 13 goals from 20 appearances. Pretty impressive reading that, especially given his bad luck with injuries, and boy has this man had some bad luck. Since 1999 he's suffered 5 hamstring injuries, a kick to the head, and a broken metatarsal before succumbing to the cruciate ligament damage at the 2006 world cup which kept him out until last April.

As to his interest in horse racing, well why not? Owen likens the passion he derives from the sport of kings to the passionate following of Newcastle United. His is not a passing interest, it's an obsession and one that he intends to carry on once he hangs up his boots. Owen now owns the Manor House Stables in Cheshire and has brought in Nicky Vaughan as head trainer. Once the England striker retires he plans to take over the running. Not a bad plan even given Owen's much publicised gambling problems 4 years ago, problems he has now brought under control.

But enough of the future, back to the present and is it inconceivable that Michael Owen could be heading for his best season in a mighty long while. Slight hernia problem or not his form of late could indicate just that. Betfair offer him at a best price 4.3 to finish the season as the leading English goalscorer. He's also 26 to finish as the top Premier League goalscorer overall and I think that is well worth taking. It might even help cheer me up when he gets on the scoresheet on Sunday.

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