Newcastle play it safe with Owen

Michael Owen will not be rushed back from injury to resurrect England's faltering Euro 2008 qualification campaign.

The 27-year-old Newcastle striker revealed last week he was around two weeks away from returning to full training and with reports suggesting he is targeting Chelsea's Barclays Premiership visit to St James' Park on April 22 for his comeback, hopes have been raised that he could figure for England against Estonia in Tallinn on June 6.

But Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted England's plight cannot be any of his concern, saying: "I am an England fan and I want to watch them in the Euro finals in 2008. But let's stop this clamour for Michael Owen returning to play for England before it gets up a full head of steam."

He added: "Michael Owen will return when it is in the best interests of the player and Newcastle United, not England.

"The player and Newcastle United come first, but he will not be rushed back just so that he can play for England in the summer - and make no mistake about it, if Michael is not fit for Newcastle United this season, he will not be fit for England."

England boss Steve McClaren's desperation to have Owen, who has scored 36 goals in 80 senior international appearances, back in harness is perfectly understandable after a miserable run during which Wayne Rooney's strike in the 1-1 friendly draw in Holland in November represents his side's only goal in five games.

However, Shepherd's reluctance to release his club's £17million record signing for international duty - he is still fighting a battle for compensation with FIFA over Owen's injury suffered during last summer's World Cup - is equally valid.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid hitman has made only 11 appearances for the club in the 19 months since he arrived on Tyneside, scoring seven goals in the process, and has spent months in the treatment room.