Soccer: Newcastle chief unhappy at Owen compensation level

LONDON - Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd said today that the compensation the club will receive from the English FA's insurers for the injury Michael Owen suffered at the World Cup will be far too low.

The England striker has returned home from the finals with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and is expected to be out of action for several months.

Shepherd told Sky Sports News: "When you lend somebody something and they return them injured or broken then you shouldn't have to pay for the repair.

"That what's happened at Newcastle and the level of compensation isn't high enough in my opinion.

"Players move on, players' wages move on and transfer fees move on so the level (of compensation) is far too low."

Premier League Newcastle's manager Glenn Roeder told Thursday's Daily Telegraph: "Now people will understand why (Manchester United manager) Alex Ferguson has been jumping up and down at Old Trafford about the Wayne Rooney situation."

Ferguson consistently stressed the need for Rooney not to return to England action too early at the World Cup in Germany after the United striker broke his foot.

- REUTERS