Owen Absent As Allardyce Takes Reins at Newcastle

Michael Owen and Newcastle United appear no closer to reconciliation. After Freddy Shepherd's public rebuke to Owen about loyalty last week, the Newcastle chairman revealed yesterday that he and the player had not spoken directly since, and although he said of Owen, "He's done nothing wrong to me. I'm quite happy relationship-wise," he concluded with "The ball's in his court".

It has been since last Wednesday, but there has been no word from Owen. Like several other Newcastle players, he failed to witness Sam Allardyce's first trip to the club's training ground as Newcastle manager yesterday. Owen was in Ireland on an unspecified trip.

The club will not prevent him joining up with England for the B international against Albania at Burnley on Friday week but he earns about £15,000 a day and each week that passes without him stating his commitment to Newcastle hurts the club severely.

"I haven't heard from Michael Owen," Shepherd said when asked about last week's comments. "He wouldn't have signed in the first place if he didn't think this was the place - if 20,000 people coming to see him that day didn't make his mind up, nothing would.

"As I've said before, he's under contract here until something else happens and I hope he stays. He's a great player and as far as I'm concerned I've got no problem with him. He's done nothing wrong to me; I'm quite happy relationship-wise. But like any player, he has to make his mind up about what he wants to do. It's up to him. The ball's in his court."

Shepherd was also asked about two other reluctant players, Obafemi Martins and Charles N'Zogbia, who declined to appear at Watford on Sunday. "Oba has been on the phone and said it was a complete misunderstanding. Until we see him face to face I cannot really comment on that one, but Charles N'Zogbia wants his backside smacked. It's absolutely ridiculous. A young man like him who has been here all this time trying to play the big star - he should do it on the field before trying to do it off it," Shepherd said.

Allardyce was relaxed about Owen's absence yesterday and was not treating it as a snub, but the two will speak by telephone before meeting in person. "He sent his apologies," the manager said.