NEWCASTLE striker Michael Owen last night confirmed he is hoping to make his eagerly-awaited return from injury in next month's crunch FA Cup quarter-final with Chelsea.

Owen is still the Magpies' leading scorer this season, despite being sidelined since breaking his metatarsal in a collision with England colleague Paul Robinson on New Year's Eve.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker had initially been expected to make his comeback in April, giving him a month to prove his fitness ahead of this summer's World Cup in Germany.

But, with Newcastle just two games away from an FA Cup final appearance in Cardiff, he is ready to do all he can to aid the club's quarter-final chances at Stamford Bridge on March 22.

"The norm for this injury is between 12-14 weeks," said Owen, who is yet to make a cup appearance since his £16m summer move from Spain. "So my sights have always been set on the start of April.

"But if I can shave a few days or a week off that, I know there is the small matter of an FA Cup tie against Chelsea.

"If it's healing really well, perhaps that game will come into contention. If it does, I'm sure John Terry will look after me really well. I'm sure he'll be careful not to step on my foot!"

Newcastle have spent most of the season compensating for the loss of their leading marksman and, tomorrow, England will also have to deal with Owen's absence.

With Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch all but assured of a place in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad, the friendly with Uruguay will give Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent the chance to prove their credentials on the international stage.

Owen is understandably frustrated at missing an emotional return to Anfield but, with Newcastle having sacked their manager during his protracted absence, he remains more concerned about his club's lack of return for their considerable investment in his services.

"A freak injury like this is really frustrating for everybody," he said. "It's frustrating for myself and frustrating for England but, most of all, the main feeling I have is one of sorrow for the club.

"Newcastle have spent a lot of money on me and, so far, I haven't been able to repay them enough.

"The only saving grace is that, in the ten games I've played, I've been able to score a few goals and done quite well. That's not enough, though, and I'm itching to get back in a Newcastle shirt to repay them properly.

"My club is my main concern because, if I don't get back and play well for Newcastle, the World Cup is irrelevant. If things go well, it is a fantastic bonus that everyone is looking forward to."

England's last friendly outing ended in a morale-boosting 3-2 win over one of the World Cup favourites, Argentina.

Tomorrow night's opponents are hardly in the same class as their illustrious fellow South Americans, but Owen is looking for another win against Uruguay to maintain the side's positive momentum.

"We have to make games like this count," he said. "In our minds, we have to think: 'We have beaten Argentina and everyone is talking about them as potential World Cup winners'.

"We have to turn our win over them into a huge positive factor and make sure we keep the snowball effect going until the World Cup begins."

With Emre and Albert Luque joining Owen on the international sidelines, Newcastle have just two of their players - Shay Given and Jean-Alain Boumsong - in action this week.

Boumsong is expected to feature in France's home game with Slovakia, while Given will start against Sweden as Steve Staunton makes his bow as manager of the Republic of Ireland.

The United goalkeeper was crowned Ireland's Senior International Player of the Year on Sunday night but, surprisingly, he is likely to be overlooked when Staunton confirms the identity of his new captain today.

With Kenny Cunningham having retired from the international game, Staunton was expected to hand Given the armband. But, after expressing his preference for an outfield skipper, the Irish boss is now set to appoint striker Robbie Keane instead.

His advisor, Sir Bobby Robson, has been informed of the move, but the former Newcastle boss still paid tribute to Given after he received his award.

"Shay Given is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe," said Robson. "He is so consistent, a good boy, a great trainer, good attitude, good pro, never late, a good catcher, a great line saver.

"I used to think during my spell at Newcastle, 'Why doesn't Alex (Ferguson) buy him' - not that I wanted Shay to go.

"If I had been at Manchester United, with all their goalkeeping problems since Peter Schmeichel, I would have asked 'Who is the best goalkeeper in the league?'

"The fact that he is Irish is an advantage because there is no language problem.

"I would have wanted to buy Shay Given, but Alex never came and made an offer.

"I think we have the best keeper in the Premiership. I don't believe anybody else - Edwin van der Sar or the Arsenal goalkeeper - is anywhere near Shay Given."

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