NEWCASTLE UNITED'S Michael Owen handed England manager Steve McClaren a boost by declaring his fitness ahead of next week's friendly with Germany at Wembley.

On the day that it was confirmed Wayne Rooney has been sidelined for two months with a hairline fracture to his left foot, Owen emerged unscathed after almost an hour of Newcastle reserves' 2-0 victory over Newcastle Blue Star.

Having been forced to miss the Magpies' first game of the new Premier League season at Bolton on Saturday, Owen was asked to build up his fitness against their UniBond League neighbours.

And the 27-year-old, making his first appearance since the July friendly with Hartlepool, showed no signs of suffering a reaction to the thigh tear which has sidelined him recently.

Now Owen has eyes on playing against Aston Villa on Saturday, just four days before England are due to face Germany a week tomorrow.

"You always want to play in the first game and at a push I could have been involved against Bolton but I have only missed one game and now I am available," said Owen, after making way in front of 3,500 at Kingston Park where he was being marked by Blue Star centre-back and ParcelForce worker Derek Townsley.

"I am feeling fit and to play tonight was great. Now I will train for the next few days and I will be available for Saturday.

"I really do feel fine. It was nice to get some football under my belt. It was only a small injury, a little niggle. I have been back training for four or five days and it was good to be back out on the pitch.

"It has been frustrating to miss some of the pre-season games but I have still been training and I don't feel I have missed out in terms of strength and fitness work. I have been working hard."

Allardyce is likely to recall Owen to the squad, although there is no need to rush him back into the side at St James' Park this weekend, given the manager's attacking options following the summer acquisitions of Mark Viduka and Alan Smith.

But England boss McClaren's need is more pressing after Rooney suffered his woe in Manchester United's Sunday draw with Reading.

That means Rooney will not only be missing against Germany, he may also miss the vital European Championships qualifiers with Israel and Russia.

It is the misfortune of the United striker that has left McClaren pinning his hopes on Owen making a quick return to full fitness.

And he will have been encouraged by Owen's appearance last night, in front of Newcastle and England coach Steve Round. The £16m striker, who has played just 14 times competitively for Newcastle in two years, had two cleared off the line against Blue Star.

The first highlighted his sharpness, when he latched onto Matty Pattison's through ball and chipped over the keeper Dan Lowson that had to be cleared by student Leon Scott.

Then, just before he made way after 59 minutes, Owen's superb finish from the left looked destined for the net but alert defender Chris Carr slid in to clear.

This season is one when Owen is determined to make up for lost time, having only returned from a year out with a knee injury in April.

Ameobi, also aiming to make his mark after injury, also showed he has every intention of pushing for a starting place at Kingston Park.

He struck two fine goals - one either side of half-time - to give the more illustrious Newcastle line-up the win. The first was a neat finish underneath Lowson, while the second was a stunning curler from an angle out wide.

There was also an appearance from Kieron Dyer, hoping for a move to West Ham this week with Nolberto Solano, but he had to endure the occasional boo from sections of the fans, despite a lively showing.

Both Dyer, who has already been on the verge of a switch to Upton Park once only for the deal to break down at the last moment, and Solano are keen to make the move for family reasons. The Hammers are continuing negotiations with Newcastle over a fee for the pair and it could happen this week.

NEWCASTLE BLUE STAR: Lowson, Webster, Scott, Carr, Townsley, Hooks, McTiernan, Nicholls, Novak, Chritchlow, Pringle. Subs: Emms, Robinson, Davies, Bainbridge, Walton.

NEWCASTLE united: Forster, Huntington (Francis 78), Cacapa, Edgar, Ramage, Pattison, Troisi (McLoughlin 70), Dyer (Godsmark 70), Ameobi (Donaldson 78), Owen (Lough 59), LuaLua (Ferguson 85). Subs: Morris, Danquay.