St James' would be best for Owen - Robson
Aug 9 2005
Liverpool Echo
FORMER Newcastle manager Sir Bobby Robson believes England striker Michael Owen would benefit from a move to St James' Park.
The England striker, 25, is currently out of favour at Real Madrid, and has been linked with a move back to the Barclays Premiership ahead of the World Cup next summer.
Predictions 200506Good evening one and all. Last season the predictions I made before the start of the season were not too bad (for a change!). Perhaps Leeds not being in the top division...
With Magpies boss Graeme Souness likely to offer Owen first team football, Robson sees his former club as a better option than Manchester United or Arsenal.
Red Devils' boss Sir Alex Ferguson, however, has side-stepped Madrid's claims he had approached them about Owen, leaving it to club officials to reject the reports from Spain.
And Robson, who took England to the knockout stages of the World Cup in 1986 and 1990, firmly believes a move to Newcastle would be Owen's best opportunity for regular football.
"What Michael Owen does not need is to leave Real Madrid and come to England to a club and have the same problem," said Robson..
"The same would happen at Arsenal, but at Newcastle it's different. He would not do that at Newcastle.
"It's a big club, it's a great place to play - he would get 40 games a season which is good for him.
"Coming on for the odd game, you have no rhythm and no pattern to your game.
"They (Newcastle) could handle his wages and there are not too many clubs who could."
With Newcastle knocked out of the Intertoto Cup last week, the lack of European football is seen as a stumbling block for a possible move.
Robson, however, insists Owen will benefit from consistent domestic action at St James' Park..
He added: "He probably would like more European experience, but for one year it's not important.
"He would develop his game again, it's the sort of club I would think is good for Michael Owen.
"As England manager I would want my top striker to play 40 games.
"His necessity is to get in the team and and hardened to the battle.
"He's a good age and has got more years ahead of him rather than behind him."
