Michael Owen and Alan Shearer don’t enjoy the best of relationships.The pair fell out not while playing together at Newcastle United, but after Shearer’s eight-match spell as manager of the club at the end of the 2008-09 season.In his new book, Reboot: My Life, Owen has opened up about the fallout following what was a good friendship between him and Shearer.The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker suggested that Shearer held him responsible for Newcastle’s relegation a decade ago and criticised him behind his back.It didn’t take the Match of the Day pundit long to hit back on Twitter though…

He posted a video of Owen saying: “So all I did for six, seven years... I hated it, I couldn't wait to retire”, with his own caption: “Yes Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120k a week…”

Owen immediately responded to the former England captain with a dig at Shearer's true commitment to Newcastle.

"Not sure you are as loyal to Newcastle as you make out mate," Owen wrote on Twitter.

“I distinctly remember you being inches away from signing for Liverpool after Sir Bobby Robson put you on the bench. You tried everything to get out.”

Gary Lineker also got in on the action after seeing Shearer’s initial tweet, saying: “Awkward.”

Owen replied: “Are you surprised he’s manipulated a tiny part of an honest answer to aim a cheap dig at me? Most ex players I’ve spoken to aren’t.”

If you’re wondering what sparked such a reaction from Shearer, here’s how Owen described the origins of their bad blood…

“He was brought in at St. James’ Park as the saviour, the local boy. It could have been a great story. But he failed.

“Newcastle United were relegated. Perhaps rather than examine his own shortcomings, it felt easier to blame Michael Owen.

“I was a week away from fitness for the final game of the season that saw Newcastle needing a point at Aston Villa to avoid relegation.

“I told him that I wasn’t fully fit but was prepared to play. As I left his office that day, he made an insinuation that led me to believe he thought I had half an eye on my next contract. I’m not stupid - we both knew I was out of contract in a few weeks.

“It wasn’t until three months later, I discovered that Alan Shearer was apparently seething with me. Not only that, it transpired that he was telling anyone who’d listen what he thought of me.”