Forgotten man Michael Owen insists he will play again this season
as he continues to battle back from his serious knee injury.
Owen, 26 damaged knee ligaments during England's World Cup campaign
in Germany is hoping to be given the go-ahead to step up his
rehabilitation programme in the new year.
'There is still a lot of work to be done until I am back out
playing, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now and I
am looking forward to the day I return. 'Plenty of people have
tried to set targets for when I will start playing again, but it
really is impossible to say.
'We have not done any serious work yet or tested the knee. The turn
of the year will be the important time for me but I am confident I
can play again this season.
Owen also detailed the monotony of his strict training regime which
involves daily exercises on bikes, rowing machines and the
occasional work-out in a swimming pool. He added: 'I've spent most
of my time staring at four walls in a gym; walking on a treadmill
with no end to it and on exercise bikes and rowing machines.
'If I am lucky, I get treated on a Wednesday to go down to the pool
and do 50 lengths. 'Basically it is quite a grind. But I know at
the turn of the year it will change.