Two operations in America left him facing a long haul back to fitness with Newcastle insisting he would not be rushed back as they fought for compensation for his loss.

Owen is on the brink of making his comeback although Sunday's match against Chelsea has come too soon.

Newcastle have received about £6m (€8.8m) from Soho Square, their own insurers and FIFA in compensation and to cover Owen's £110,000(€161,852)-a-week wages.

But chairman Freddy Shepherd has threatened to bring legal action against the FA to recoup the £150,000 (€220,708) the club have paid to restore the 27-year-old to full fitness.

The dispute has been described as a "test case" by Premier League chairman Dave Richards, who told The Times newspaper: "I think Freddy Shepherd is very, very justified in asking for certain things.

"It is something that needs sorting out in the game. I ask: 'Who has suffered out of this?' Well, Michael Owen has, but Newcastle United have as well because they have not had his services and someone has got to pay for that.

"I think Mr Shepherd is justified in saying this is what we've got to do. I think it is a real test case.

"I think it is a shame that football has to get itself in this position, when it is not difficult for the FA and Newcastle to get together to sort this out outside the media.

"But Mr Shepherd and Newcastle are one of our members and obviously they have the support of the Premier League."

"If you worked for an employer and they paid you 52 weeks a year and someone came along and said: 'I am going to take him for 10 weeks, but you have got to carry on paying him and I'll pay him as well' - where should that money go? Should it go to the employer or to the player who would then get 62 weeks' pay a year instead of 52? That's the scenario we need to look at."