I'll prove my star has not burned out, vows Stoke new boy Owen

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UPDATED:

22:05 GMT, 13 September 2012

Such is Michael Owen’s profile that
part of his week entailed an appearance on ITV’s All Star Mr and Mrs. /09/13/article-2202487-14FEE2C2000005DC-134_634x406.jpg” width=”634″ height=”406″ alt=”Ready to go: Michael Owen wants to make his debut for Stoke this weekend against Manchester City” class=”blkBorder” />

Ready to go: Michael Owen wants to make his debut for Stoke this weekend against Manchester City

New surroundings: Michael Owen during training at his new club

After spending last season out of action at Manchester United, the former England striker is ready to play Barclays Premier League football again.

‘People say I have things to prove and I suppose I have,’ said Owen. ‘I want to prove I can stand the rigours of a full season.’

Owen’s statistics speak for themselves. Forty goals for England, more than 100 for Liverpool and spells at Real Madrid, Newcastle and, more recently, United. He has — for a decade-and-a-half — been one of our more eminent goalscorers.

He arrives at Stoke, though, as a 32-year-old with a reputation for physical frailty. He hasn’t started a Premier League game for more than a year and, as a result, one senses that this will be the season that either extends his career by a couple of years or finishes it off completely.

‘Inevitably there would be one or two games you might miss for an injury here and there,’ he said yesterday. ‘But in general terms I want to be fit for most of the season.

‘I’ve got that to prove and from the club’s point of view that’s a slight risk. We all like to think it’s a risk worth taking.’

During his three years at United, Owen was a popular figure, known for his uncomplaining approach and an understanding of Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad ethic.

Here at Stoke, though, Owen has arrived
to play. Ferguson recommended him to Stoke manager Tony Pulis who, in
turn, pursued him even before the end of last season.

‘I wouldn’t say I was keen but I kept the No 10 shirt open for him all
that time,’ said Pulis, smiling. ‘I spoke to Sir Alex and he gave him a
drum roll. That was enough.’

Own goal: Owen hopes to have more success on the pitch than on All Star Mr and Mrs

Smile, Michael: Owen could make his Stoke debut this weekend

OWEN NEEDED SOME HOME HELP

Owen and his wife of seven years Louise, whom he met aged five, knew at school and started dating at 17, came last on ITV’s All Star Mr and Mrs. The couple revealed to host Phillip Schofield that…

MICHAEL HAS NEVER…

…made a cup of tea. ‘I’ve never drunk a cup of tea or coffee in my life,’ he said. Does he even know how to make one ‘Well, I’ve seen people do it.’

…ironed a shirt
‘I’m one of five children and mum’s done everything for us all our lives,’ he revealed. ‘Once I moved out and moved in with Louise, she took her place.’

…done the washing
‘I wouldn’t know what happened there. I presume this silk shirt is delicate’ he said, stroking his pink shirt.

OWEN THE ROMANTIC

The new Stoke striker revealed his wife thought he was ‘emotionless’. But she said she had been ‘blinded by love’. Louise also revealed one of her earliest memories was when the young Michael invited her home to see his pet budgie!

AND FINALLY…

Owen admitted his most childish habit was flatulence. ‘I’m pretty good at it,’ he said. ‘He’s got a childish sense of humour — it’s when he breaks wind,’ Louise confirmed.

Looking back, Pulis recalls sitting in the stadium at
St-Etienne as Owen tore Argentina to pieces in the 1998 World Cup on a
night that effectively launched a teenage striker’s career.

In training this week, he will perhaps have recognised that Owen has lost some of that pace.
‘He understands link play better now,’ added Pulis.

He will also see, however, that Owen retains the instinct and devastating finishing ability of a natural goalscorer.

In between the injuries and the spells on the bench at United, Owen did score some great goals.
There was a hat-trick in the Champions League at Wolfsburg, a
last-minute winner at home to Manchester City and an impressive strike
in a Carling Cup final.

Sadly, those contributions were rarely enough to
earn a run in Ferguson’s team, even during those times when he was fit
enough to play.

‘I’ve never been one to complain,’ he said. ‘I was privileged to play at
a top club like Manchester United. Yeah, I scored a hat-trick in one
game and did not start the next, but that goes to show how good the
other players were.

‘I’d be foolish to think, at 30 or 31, I was going to play ahead of
Wayne Rooney and the top players there. You want to play more and get
out there but you’ll never hear me complain about not starting after
scoring a hat-trick. But if I scored a hat-trick here you’d probably
expect to play.’

Stoke face City at home on Saturday.

Owen, by all accounts, will be on the substitutes’ bench as he looks to shake some rustiness from his legs.

‘The feedback I’m getting from the fitness staff here is that I’m pretty much among the pack in terms of fitness,’ he said.

On the ball: Owen joined Stoke after leaving Manchester United in the summer

‘From my own point of view, I feel that in training I’m just a little
bit rusty. I feel as if my touch will improve, so I’m probably behind in
that.

‘You just know these things are not spot-on and I feel as though I will improve. I’ve only had four sessions here.

‘But I’m really pleased to sign here. It ticks an awful lot of boxes.
The manager has been keen to sign me for a number of years.

‘It’s nice to feel wanted and to have that feeling of anticipation once
more. It’s certainly a club on the up and it is an exciting time to
join.’

Michael Tonge, understood to have been cut from Stoke’s squad after Owen’s late signing, has joined Leeds United on loan until December.