'Upset' Owen determined for Real success

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October 05, 2004 21:06 IST

England striker Michael Owen is upset by British media coverage of his faltering start at Real Madrid and has ruled out a quick return to Liverpool.

Owen, who has yet to score a goal after joining Real from Liverpool in August, also said in a column in Tuesday's edition of The Times that he hopes to shake off a back problem in time for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Wales.

The 24-year-old sustained the injury after making a rare start in Sunday's 1-0 home defeat by Deportivo Coruna as the Spanish giants continued to struggle and the British press questioned the wisdom of his move to Spain.

"Plenty of others are doubting me, but I know that I will succeed in Spain." he said.

"I am aware of what is being said about me in this country and it is upsetting that people are not more supportive.

"I thought we were meant to be encouraging our top players to take on the challenge of proving themselves abroad. I heard there was talk over the weekend about me coming back to Liverpool.

"Give me a chance. I have only been in Spain for six league matches. And I have never been the quitting type."

Owen, who was due for a scan on his injury on Tuesday, faces competition from Jermain Defoe to start alongside Wayne Rooney against Wales in the Group Six qualifier at Old Trafford.

"It should be a great occasion, one that I do not want to miss," Owen wrote.

"On that endless football cycle, it appears to be my turn to attract the negative headlines and I can't say that I felt happy with life when I walked out of the Bernabeu feeling sore at the weekend. But I am not going to hide."

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