Owen impatient to be back on goal trail

Michael Owen cannot wait to reopen his Barclays Premier League goals account, after finally finding the back of the net in a black-and-white shirt once again.

The 27-year-old England international´s 58th-minute strike in last night´s 3-1 friendly victory at Coca-Cola League One Hartlepool was his first for the Magpies since December 17 2005 - a fortnight before his injury nightmare began.

Owen said: "We all realise how important these games are, but there´s nothing like the real thing.

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