Former NUFC physio Paul Ferris has revealed that Michael Owen refused to play in the penultimate game of our 2008/09 relegation season against Fulham, stating that he ‘didn’t want to risk his groin’ as he was out of contract in the summer and worried he wouldn’t find another club if he was injured!
Incredible. All this from our £17m club record signing. He owed us one as it is, with him being injured more than he was fit during his 4 seasons on Tyneside, but to find that he backed out of playing in a game where he could’ve repaid his fee is pretty disgraceful.
As it turns out, just one more point and we would’ve stayed up that season, so Fulham at home on the penultimate weekend of the season would’ve been the perfect time for our club record striker to step up. But no, not the spineless Michael Owen.
Here’s a snippet from Paul Ferris’ upcoming book, explaining why Owen didn’t play in the 0-1 home defeat to Fulham – a crippling result that contributed to our relegation just a week later:
“Michael didn’t want to risk his groin because he was out of contract in the summer and was saying, ‘I’ll not get a contract at another club if I’m injured’.”
Paul Ferris on why Michael Owen didn't play v Fulham in penultimate match of 2008-09: "Michael didn’t want to risk his groin because he was out of contract in the summer and was saying, ‘I’ll not get a contract at another club if I’m injured'." #nufc
— David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) February 19, 2018
It shouldn’t come as any major surprise really. Owen has always struck me as the sort of bloke whose in it for himself, but this is another level.
To think he had the captains armband..
Matchday 37 • Newcastle 0-1 Fulham
This was record signing Michael Owen's excuse not to play.
A point would have saved Newcastle from relegation. https://t.co/m13am1WdF1
— The Spectator's View (@thespectoview) February 19, 2018
THE
little ***** was here just for his own gains glad to get rid of the GREEDY BIT OF ****
WE were better off without him G L BXXXXXX .
simmo(Quote)
Never liked the guy! Baby faced Assasin and greedy!
Rev Kennedy(Quote)
Wow what a **** if true.
shamrock(Quote)
He’s an absolute gimp and a total moron to boot
Dickbell(Quote)