Tuesday night proved that Michael Owen still has that unteachable knack of being able to pop up with goals. Whilst his searing pace my have deserted him, that ability to be in the right place at the right time has always been a consistent part of his game.
Repeatedly it is evident that this is the reason why Sir Alex Ferguson persists with having a player of Michael Owen on the books at Manchester United. When Owen plays, he scores, which is unfortunate as he doesn’t play often enough and his career is threatening to fade away into the history books; having not really hit the heights his early potential merited.
Michael Owen was named European Footballer of the year in 2001 whilst playing for Liverpool and had the footballing world at his feet. His effort against Argentina at France 98, Cup final goals and a hat-trick against Germany in Munich seem distant memory now.
Poor career choices and genuinely bad luck with injuries are the reasons for this. Part of a hit and miss Liverpool side which seemed to excel in the cup competitions but not in the league, Owen felt that a high profile move to the Real Madrid would see more silver ware in his trophy cabinet.
He won nothing with Real, and in the first season after his departure Liverpool won the Champions League. Despite his outstanding appearances to goals ratio for the Madrid giants, he could not compete with the fans love for local prince Raul nor later the arrival of more exotic strikers such as Julio Baptista.
Still a big name in English football, thanks to his persistent scoring for the national side, Real Madrid were able to make a profit on Michael Owen by selling him on to Newcastle for £16.8 million in 2005. This is arguably one of his biggest errors.
Few clubs were willing to match the asking price and he was guaranteed to be first choice, but this was the beginning of a tumultuous time for Newcastle which made scoring goals all the more difficult. This was also the beginning of Owen’s struggles with injuries, namely in the form of a broken metatarsal and cruciate knee ligament injury sustained at the 2006 World Cup.
Michael did recover some form but never really since has he been considered as a world class marquee player. A free transfer in 2009 to Manchester United raised some eyebrows, but Owen was only ever intended to be a bit-part player here. His ability to ‘do a job’ and the security of a two year contract with questions regarding his longterm fitness made it a wise career move.
The player himself would have probably admitted that his career was winding down, but his aforementioned knack of grabbing a goal may have led him to question his own longevity. Michael Owen faces a difficult decision. Stay at Manchester United and continue to be a dependable bench-warmer in a team filled with other outstanding talents which keeps his medal haul on the increase, but is reduced to the relatively pressure free cup games and no extended run in the side in the Premiership. Or does he chance it and move to a smaller side become the main man once more.
Ultimately his fitness will have much bearing on his decision, as will his appetite. But all must remember he is only 31 and as a goal poacher there is definitely the scope for more quality moments from this player. With 40 goals for England too, it could be the case that many have underestimated the pedigree of an undoubted footballing legend. The question is, does Michael Owen himself think he has it in him to rise to challenge one final time.
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