Friedel out to blunt Owen goal threat
Standing between Michael Owen scoring his first goal for Newcastle is his former team-mate Brad Friedel, who leads a defence with the Barclays Premiership’s toughest reputation.
Friedel, the 34-year-old who has just signed a three-year-contract at Ewood Park, started his career in the Premiership at Liverpool when Michael Owen was emerging as the striker to lead England’s attack for the next decade.
While former America international Friedel left Anfield within three seasons - “I knew it was time to look elsewhere and that’s what I did but I never doubted my own abilities,” he said – Owen’s class was obvious even at that early stage.
First-team opportunities were available at Rovers, even though they were not in the top flight, and after promotion was gained Friedel then established himself as one of the most consistent keepers in the country.
Owen, 25, remained at Liverpool until last season and now has the challenge of rescuing Newcastle’s season after spending a year with Real Madrid as underling to the Spanish giants’ galacticos.
Although Owen did not score against Fulham on his Magpies debut, Friedel is wary of his former team-mate.
“You know some of the things he likes to do, it’s a matter of him doing them well,” Friedel said. “It’s difficult to stop so it’s up to us to stop him.
“I was a little bit surprised he went to Newcastle, I thought with the speculation he might end up back at Liverpool.
“In saying that, it’s a great signing for Newcastle. I was with Michael at Liverpool for two or three years and he is not only an exceptional player but a great guy off the pitch.
“He’s going to do wonders for the club up there, but I just hope it doesn’t start against us.”
A strong performance from Friedel could also increase the pressure on his former manager Graeme Souness, who has endured a wretched start to the season but has bolstered his squad before the transfer window closed.
The Ewood Park clash has a number of reunions, with Craig Bellamy facing his former club – who he left after a row with former Rovers boss Souness.
It should also be Alan Shearer’s last league appearance at the home of the club he won the Premiership for.
While Bellamy has a reputation of causing unrest, Friedel countered: “Since he’s been here he’s been outstanding. There’s a mutual respect between our gaffer and Craig, and Craig and the rest of our staff. He’s not had an ounce of a problem here and so any problems he did have at Newcastle are in the past.
“It’s not going to be the same here, whenever you leave a club in non-amicable way, when you play them against maybe there will be more fire for Craig.
“Right now he’s trying to get fit to score goals for us and win us game whether it’s against Newcastle or anyone else.”
Unlike former Rovers boss Souness, Shearer is expected to be given an appreciative reception from Rovers fans.
“He’s been a first-class player for a significant time, you have to give the guy credit to come back from his injuries,” said Rovers boss Mark Hughes. “He’s a certain type of forward, the last of a certain breed.”
Hughes is backing his defenders to stop Shearer and Owen but admits the partnership does look promising for Newcastle, adding: “They’ve played together at international level, so it looks like a marriage made in heaven – we just hope it doesn’t come together against us.
“We’re not bad defensively ourselves so it will be a good match up between our central defenders and the dream team.
“We concentrate on what we’re going to do. Obviously you highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition but you can’t concentrate on the individuals too much as there is quality throughout their side.”
