[kennethlindheim]

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has confirmed that the club will receive compensation from the Football Association for Michael Owen's injury.
Owen was ruled out for several months with knee ligament damage after falling awkwardly in the draw with Sweden.

The England striker has returned to the Newcastle to begin his rehabilitation.

Shepherd said: "The FA insures England players when they are on international duty should compensation issues arise and that applies in Michael's case."

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington agreed: "We have an insurance policy in place for all players that covers their salaries while they are injured."

And Shepherd is thought to have taken out additional coverage with the FA against a serious injury to his £17m signing.

"If you lend tools to someone and they come back broken you shouldn't have to pay for the repair and that is what happened to Newcastle," said Shepherd.

"The FA have a level of compensation and we insured Michael above that but compensation isn't high enough in my opinion."

"I nearly vomited when it happened. You can imagine, we've just got him fit for England, he's played very well for Newcastle this year, he plays two games for England, and he is substituted.

"And now he's sent back to Newcastle for us to more or less pick up the pieces. So we don't think any manager, or chairman, or supporter, is going to be very happy with that."

Very well. A little comfort.