Owen over mumps

Magpies skipper easing back to full fitness Michael Owen's pre-season preparations have been hindered after he contracted mumps. The Newcastle striker picked up the virus at the end of last season, forcing him to miss England's friendly dates with United States and Trinidad and Tobago in June. He has now returned to full health and is back in training, but looks set to sit out the Magpies' game at Doncaster this weekend. "When I pulled out of the England squad for the games against the United States and Trinidad, everyone thought I had a virus," the 28-year-old told the Chronicle. "But it turned out that I had the mumps, and they would not let me go in case I infected any of the other England players. Training "And while I would not say I was in a bad way it wasn't very pleasant at all. "It did affect me for a while - I was... [read full story]