[kennethlindheim]

MICHAEL OWEN is fighting a race against time to be in the Newcastle United opener with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium a week on Saturday.

The England striker’s thigh injury is proving a bit slow to heal and it’s not the news Sam Allardyce wants to hear as he prepares to return to his former stamping ground.

Big Sam told me last Wednesday that he expected Owen and Shola Ameobi to play some part against Celtic at St James’ Park on Thursday night.

But neither did, and neither of the two strikers were involved against Juventus on Sunday.

There is a chance that Ameobi, who has had a bit of back trouble, will play some part in tonight’s friendly at Hull City, but it would be a surprise if Owen is on the bus.

All this leaves is Sunday’s friendly with Sampdoria at St James’ Park, and as things stand, three of United’s main four-man strike force of Owen, Ameobi and Mark Viduka have only managed 90 minutes of football among them in pre-season, with the exception being Oba Martins who has looked quite lively.

This was in the first friendly at Hartlepool when Owen and Ameobi played in the second half – and looked good together.

Viduka is now training with United but he does not expect to be involved at Hull City tonight.

It’s not the sort of preparations Allardyce wanted, with midfielders Joey Barton, Emre, Nicky Butt and Damien Duff all queuing to get into the treatment room along with the likes of Owen and Ameobi and central defender Steven Taylor.

icNewcastle - Owen a worry for big kick-off

Fucking same old shite with injuries every bastard season.