New-look Owen

Michael Owen admits he's not the player he once was and that he's had to re-invent himself!

But the Stoke City striker denies that he has lost his hunger and appetite for the game despite being one of the country's most famous racehorse owners. He said: "I have had to reinvent myself and adjust my game. No longer can I sprint 100 times in a game at lightning speed so I have changed my game." But he insists there is no lack of desire or motivation claiming it's impossible to reach the highs he has in his career without caring very much. He said:"I love the game of football. Nothing was handed to me. I had the desire to be the best and it has never left me. It's still there." Owen was part of the City team that went under to his former club Manchester United at the weekend and he declared: "It's never easy to keep them at bay and they had all their top players out.They are still a top side." But he was delighted with much of the Stoke performance saying: "That's as well as we have played in possession all season and at times we looked really dangerous.