Birthplace: Chester
Date signed: 30 August 2005
NUFC Debut: 10 September 2005 v Fulham

International Career
88 England caps, 40 goals
International Debut
1998 v Chile

Honours
2001 Golden Boot
2001 European SuperCup Winner
2001 UEFA Cup Winner
2001 FA Cup Winner
2001 Charity Shield Winner
2003 League Cup Winner

Michael Owen joined Newcastle United on 30 August 2005 from Real Madrid, signing a four-year contract. A true jewel in England's crown, The Magpies' new-boy is a world-class striker with just under a goal every two games in international football - his combination of skill, pace and ability to read the game making him a unique talent.

 The Chester born striker made his debut, aged 17, for Liverpool at Wimbledon in the penultimate game of the 1996/97 season and made an immediate impact by finding the net in a 2-1 defeat. He went on to make 267 starts for The Reds in all competitions, with a further 30 from the bench, and netted an impressive 158 goals. In every season since 1998 Owen was Liverpool's top scorer, even hitting 19 goals in an injury hit 2003/04 campaign.

The star of Liverpool's 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, Michael joined The Reds as a schoolboy and scored prolifically as he rose rapidly through the Anfield ranks. Off the pitch he collected the PFA Young Player of the Year for season 1997-98 and in 1998 was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

It was in the treble season of 2000/01 that Owen continued and enhanced his reputation, he hit two goals against AS Roma in the UEFA Cup and followed that up with two magnificent late goals to win the FA Cup Final for Liverpool in Cardiff against Arsenal - a match which has since been called 'The Michael Owen Cup Final'. That just confirmed his standing as one of the most exciting strikers in Europe.

Michael was named European Footballer of the Year in December 2001 when he received the prestigious 'ballon D'or' and scored his 100th Liverpool goal against West Ham at Upton Park on 29th December 2001. In the 2002/03 season Owen scored 28 goals for Liverpool including his 100th in the Premiership with a hat-trick at West Bromwich Albion. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff again when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the Worthington Cup.

Michael left Anfield for Real Madrid in August 2004, and made 20 starts for the Spanish giants, and a further 15 from the bench, netting 13 La Liga goals however the acquisition of additional strikers by the Spanish Champions in the summer of 2005 made him look elsewhere for regular first team football. Owen has been capped 75 times for his country, and his 35 goals see him positioned fourth in the all-time England hotshots list behind Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48) and Jimmy Greaves (44) and with time on his side, the all-time England goal record is certainly within his grasp.

He made his England debut in February 1998 against Chile at Wembley, at the time becoming the youngest player to turn out for the national side that century. His memorable goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France was voted as the Goal of the Tournament - giving the striker instant world-wide fame. His hat-trick against Germany in Munich in September 2001, as England beat their hosts 5-1 to ensure qualification for the 2002 World Cup, demonstrated his phenomenal scoring prowess and he hit his second international hat-trick in England's 3 - 2 win against Colombia in May 2005.

The striker has a tremendous goal record against The Magpies too, scoring 14 goals in 10 appearances. That haul includes two trebles, one in a 4-1 win for Liverpool at the start of the 1998/99 campaign and another in the 3-0 defeat on Merseyside in 2000/01. Owen also marked his final appearance for Liverpool with a goal against Newcastle at The Kop End in the final game of the 2003/04 season.

Michael has gone on record as saying that one of his best-ever goals came at St. James' Park, when he found the net for England Schoolboys against Scotland's youngsters after a mazy run and cool finish at the Leazes End. Michael's goal against Poland on 12 October 2005, his 33rd for England, equalled Gary Lineker's tally of competitive goals for his country (22).

Scored his first hat-trick for Newcastle in the 4-2 win at West Ham on December 17, 2005. However, a broken metatarsal bone in his foot, suffered on December 31 at Tottentham, restricted him to only one sub appearance for United for the rest of the 2005/06 season.

Worse was to come in the summer of 2006 when, three games into the World Cup with England, Michael ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament.

A long period of rehabilitation followed before Michael made his long-awaited comeback for Newcastle away to Reading at the end of April 2007.

Michael rejoined the England fold in the summer of 2007, and by September had taken his international goals tally to 40. He also got back on the scoresheet for Newcastle after a long absence with goals against Barnsley and Wigan before suffering more bad luck on the fitness front when being sidelined with a groin problem.