Ronaldo injury blow may give Owen Real chance

England striker Michael Owen may be handed a rare start for Real Madrid on Saturday after Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo returned from his high-profile Valentine's Day party in Paris with an injured toe.

Real coach Wanderley Luxemburgo was already fuming because Ronaldo, who staged a lavish party for his model girlfriend Daniela Cicarelli at Chantilly on Monday, arrived back in Spain late.

Luckily for Real, Owen, who has eight goals to his name this season, is waiting in the wings should the three-times World Player of the Year fail to be fit in time for the visit of Athletic Bibao on Saturday.

Speculation over the future of Owen has not stopped since the former Liverpool player suggested to British newspaper reporters last week that he was prepared to leave Real in the summer if he did not get to play more often.

Owen has since tried to smooth over the situation by suggesting he is happy at Real after all, and starting against the Basque visitors may temporarily ease the pressure on all parties.

Equally happy to see Owen starting will be the Real supporters.

Several banners among the Santiago Bernabeu spectators two weeks ago proclaimed, 'Owen -- titular' which broadly translates as Owen Must Start.

Owen pressed his claims by getting the crucial equaliser in Real's 2-1 win at Real Zaragoza last Sunday, a header with his first touch of the game and after only being on the field three minutes.

Regardless of who is the target man, Real are on a high at the moment, having won all their seven league games since Luxemburgo took over in December.

Real are still in second place though, with 54 points from their 23 games but still four points behind season-long league leaders Barcelona.