Michael Owen is hoping that his new baby son will keep up the family tradition and step into his shooting boots.

The bets are already on for which team James Michael Owen will play for.

And Newcastle United's Owen, whose father was a footballer, has said he would love it if James became a professional.

Owen's wife, Louise, gave birth to James on Monday at the Countess of Chester Hospital with the new arrival weighing in at 7lbs 9oz and already his proud dad is looking to the future.

The 26-year-old said: "People have already asked me whether I would like him to be a footballer and the answer is that of course I would.

"You always think that the way you were brought up was right and so you try to emulate that to some extent.

"My Dad, who was also a footballer, was perfect with me from that point of view."

Owen's Dad, Terry, played for Everton in the 60's and finished his career at Port Vale having played 299 games and scored 70 goals.

Owen has revealed that his dad always encouraged him to play as many sports as possible and that despite his boyish good looks he even spent time in the boxing ring as a youngster.

He said: "My Dad had me trying everything. I played golf, cricket, snooker, played in two or three football teams at a time, did athletics with the county, rugby, even a bit of boxing, which I did for three and a half years.

"I loved it all so I'll give my kids the option of trying as much sport as possible and then let them make up their own mind. If they do play football, I'd like to think they have a half decent teacher."

But the former European Footballer of the Year is wary of putting too much pressure on his children.

He said: "I'd like to get my children involved in sports and football but if they then don't like it that's fine.

"I won't pressurise them and I won't be there at the sidelines shouting at them, I'll just give them as many opportunities as possible.

"The most important thing is for your children to be decent people."

Owen, who lives at a 2m family home near Belsay, Northumberland, already has a two-year-old daughter, Gemma Rose Owen, who was born in May 2003.

He has previously said Northumberland was the perfect location to raise a family.

The striker moved to Newcastle United from Real Madrid in a £16m transfer last summer, but is currently sidelined after breaking a metatarsal bone in his right foot during a match on New Year's Eve.