Newcastle approach Real Madrid for Owen

Newcastle United have joined the race for Real Madrid striker Michael Owen.

The Sunday Mirror says Newcastle want to bring Owen back to the Premiership on loan and Real know of their interest.

The Spaniards have told the Tyneside club they will have to pay all of Owen's £90,000-a-week wages to land him.

Owen said: "There has been a lot more made of my situation at Madrid in England than there has been in Spain. There is no crisis with me over there and I have no intention of leaving."

"I'm going back to Spain full of confidence after a great week with England and hopefully I can now show them what I can do. I have never had any doubts that I can succeed there, and I still don't now."

"In any walk of life confidence is a big thing but my start with Madrid was not really a concern."

"But, even though I haven't been playing badly, I'm the first to admit that I haven't been setting the world alight either."