Roeder: Toon First, England Second

By Nick Raynor
April 2 2006

Newcastle United caretaker manager Glenn Roeder has said that Michael Owen’s priority is playing for Newcastle, not England.

Owen has a chance of playing the last few games for Newcastle, even if it puts his England fitness in jeopardy.

 

Roeder said:

 

"I think people around the country are forgetting Michael is our player first and foremost,"

 

"Newcastle's needs must come first.

 

"People might say: `It doesn't matter if he doesn't play for Newcastle again this season, as long as he's fit for the World Cup'.

 

"But it does matter, and I hope our fans get a chance to see Michael play for Newcastle before the World Cup.

 

"We haven't seen him play a lot this year and we want to see him fit - and I'm sure he wants to be fit - to play in those last couple of games of the season.

 

"Then he can go away with the confidence that he's proved his fitness before he joins up with England."