Owen: Mumps Have Kept Me Out
By Tyne-Talk
July 24 2008
Newcastle's newly announced captain has explained why he missed England's May & June friendlies and also Newcastle's pre-season match against Hartlepool, he contracted mumps. The England International has also revealed he is unlikely to features in Saturday's pre-season match against Doncaster due to a reduced training plan, he does however hope to play a part in the Mallorca tournament in August.
"When I pulled out of the England squad for the games with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, everyone thought I had a virus.
But it turned out that I had mumps, and they would not let me go in case I infected any of the other England players. While I would not say I was in a bad way, it wasn't very pleasant at all.
It did affect me for a while - I was quite ill and I was not allowed to do anything for four weeks.
When I came back to Newcastle our doctor here worked out a programme for me and it has been a slightly different programme from the rest of the players.
And instead of going straight into the deep end with the rest of the lads, I have just been making slow progress.
That's why you didn't see me at Hartlepool on Saturday and why I won't be out there at Doncaster on Saturday.
Perhaps I might get to play in one of the games in Mallorca next weekend. But I should definitely be okay for our first home friendly with PSV Eindhoven on August 6.''