Read more about Newcastle United.
Owen eyes key fortnight
Newcastle United, 09:58, August 25, 2008 ,
Newcastle captain Michael Owen admits the next two weeks are crucial as he looks to return to full fitness after illness and injury.
The England striker, who climbed off the bench to head the winner against Bolton on Saturday, saw another pre-season build-up wrecked this summer but is confident he can stay fit for the rest of the promising campaign.
Owen told the Journal: "I wouldn't be out here if I wasn't 100%, but like anything you can't have the illness that I've had and then just go and train and then after two minutes go and play straight away.
"You need to almost harden your body. Like last season when the manager took over I played all 20 games under his reign and there wasn't even an ounce of a problem because your body gets hardened to playing."
The former Liverpool star added: "When I've always struggled it's when I've been stop-start. The first 10 training sessions and the first two or three games after I've got injured are very important to me and as long as I can get through the next couple of weeks, the next couple of games, then I'm off and away."