Michael Owen Interview

England striker Michael Owen is back to 100% fitness as the team prepares for Euro 2000.

The Liverpool star has spoken with the German surgeon who carried out work on the 21 year old's injured hamstring and has given Owen the all clear to lead the English attack next month.

" I can say I feel fantastic. I have not felt better than this for ages. If I am lying, just watch me training and judge for yourself. I mean, if our manager at Liverpool has been putting me in for the last 6, 7, 8 games he wouldn't do it if it were not in my best interest. I have no problems at all with my fitness."

Since an initial hamstring injury suffered last April Owen has suffered another four injuries to his hamstring muscles as he tried to regain fitness.

"As I say, I have never been injured until this year before; and it is probably a psychological thing. It doesn't help when you've had a few injuries since that and you think: is it right? That is only because I say its my first one."

"I visited Germany on Tuesday to see the specialist because it was planned as soon as I saw him in the first place. I went over there and all he did is have a look at it and said: perfect, 100 per cent improvement. You say it is a trip for nothing because he never did anything but it just put it in my mind that it is much better."

"I felt good because I have played back end of the season without any problems or soreness with an aching head probably just thinking: is it all right? When you get that combination of both you are actually playing and the specialist tells you it is in good working order then I don't think he can make you feel much better."

"I have played 30 games. I have not played 60 like some people or 50. I am going into it fresher than most people because I have not played -- I have played -- if I had played one game at the end and missed 10 beforehand then you could doubt my fitness. I am fresh, I have played the back end of the season which means I have not had his trouble.

"If you asked me about two month ago I would have said: no more injuries and play these next ten games, back 10 games of the year. As I have said to you I could not think of any better preparation. If you've had an injury you're going to be worried about it specially if it is your first. It has already. When I came back after my first injury I was a nervous wreck playing. When you play a few games you get a bit more confident. I have played the last 10 games more and confident each time."

"I have seen what many people have considered the best man in the world. I have visited him and seen that he's seen thousands of professional people, all internationals. You look around and it fills you with confidence, all these top people in this place."

"I went over there and he said, he felt my hamstring and the bottom of my back and he said: when I first saw you this specific disc in your back was tight and this was causing this; and he would be able to name every, not from watching on the tv or whatever, he would be able to feel and say: there is such and such here and there. He said there was a slight bit of stiffness around the S5 joint, which is the lowest part of your back, and he said that is the only little thing. He was really pleased.

"I have been flat out for the last two months. "I think initially I never had an injury before until this year. When I got an injury I did not know what it was about. Since then I have had a few niggles since. I have played 30 odd games this year. I have played the last half a dozen games, maybe more, been fit to play in them. I feel fine now. I am in better shape."

Owen has missed many crucial matches for Liverpool in the last season and the Anfield club has experienced several fitness problemns in its front line.

" It has been a frustrating season. If you look at the injuries we have had, myself, and I have missed a lot of games so has Robbie, Jamie Redknapp. To Vladimir Smicer -- so many internationals have been keen to play. If you had asked us if we would be happy to have finished fourth at the start of the season, we would have said it would not have been bad. Obviously we're disappointed to come so close."

Owen is optimistic about England's chances next month in a very open tournament with few clear favourites other than France.

" I think we can do very well. We've got some of the best players in Europe. Man Utd have obviously done very well in Europe; a lot of their players are here. We have a few players from Liverpool, Arsenal. All the top teams in Europe that everyone fears playing around Europe. So I think we have a lot of great players."

"I think at the start when you're asked to sprint then I think if you can get the ball you've got to get the ball. I think as each game has gone on probably an extra two or three per cent in every game. You need people at the top of their profession to tell you: yeah, it is brilliant."

" I would like to think now everything is clear out of my mind and I will be back to how I was."

Owen has been following a special stretching and fitness routine for the past nine months in a bid to recover from his muscle problems.

"I come into Liverpool about 20 minutes earlier than I have ever done and will do a series of stretching and things like that beforehand. I will do a normal warm up with everyone else at training and then train as normal. Then afterwards, just depends if it is Wednesday/Saturday game it is hard to do anything extra if you are preparing. If there is a Saturday/Saturday game you can do a lot of strengthening."

The striker is still world famous after scoring the best goal at the last World Cup finals and hopes he can recover his form next month.

" This is the ideal chance to show it in a massive competition like this. You know, I just speak personally but I am sure all the top players in England love playing in these tournaments against the best players in the world."