Making only his third appearance of the season after returning from the knee ligament injury he sustained at last summer’s World Cup, Owen suffered what appeared to be a head injury after running into Pattison’s shoulder, and his presence in the England B international against Albania on May 25 must now be in doubt.

Relegated Watford earned a point thanks to Marlon King’s 52nd-minute penalty after Kieron Dyer had given Newcastle a first-half lead, but it was Owen’s departure in the 67th minute which was the talking point of the game.

Owen, who was this week asked by Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd to pledge his loyalty to the club following his move in August 2005, had done little until he had to leave the field, and appeared to be lacking match sharpness.

Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster, in the final game of his two-year loan spell before his return to Manchester United, was replaced by Alec Chamberlain in stoppage time to grant the England international a standing ovation which left him in tears.

Heavy rain for most of the day made playing conditions difficult, with players frequently losing their balance or struggling to control the ball.

Watford midfielder Douglas Rinaldi should have done better than shoot wildly over the bar from 15 yards in the third minute, after King had reached the dead-ball line and cut the ball back to his unmarked team-mate.

King was also off target eight minutes later. Lee Williamson cleverly eluded Pattison on the right before setting up King, whose effort from 20 yards flew well wide of the recalled Shay Given’s left post.

Owen, in only his third start of the campaign, was making little impression in attack, but nor was the England striker – who was included in the squad for the forthcoming B international against Albania at Burnley – receiving good service from midfield.

It took Newcastle almost 29 minutes to manage a shot on target – but, crucially, they took the lead with their first effort.

A fine reverse pass from Nolberto Solano was not cut out by the sliding Al Bangura, allowing Dyer to burst into the penalty area and slot the ball home off the body of Foster from 10 yards for his seventh goal of the season.

Seven minutes before half-time, Rinaldi’s ball across the Newcastle penalty area picked out Tommy Smith, who was foiled by an unkind bounce as his prepared to shoot, and his effort flew well wide of the right post.

Owen was still struggling to make an impact on the match, and he looked some way short of match fitness and the form which has made him one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

In first-half stoppage time, Steven Taylor showed excellent bravery to deny the recalled Will Hoskins after Rinaldi had crossed from the right.

Watford began the second half brightly, Will Hoskins turning quickly in the 47th minute to hit a volley which Peter Ramage did well to block.

In the 50th minute, the home side enjoyed an escape when Adrian Mariappa and Lloyd Doyley failed to clear Stephen Carr’s cross from the left, but Owen could not react quickly enough to their mistakes, and the ball went out for a goal kick.

Adrian Boothroyd’s team made the most of their good fortune, and equalised within two minutes.

Much to Newcastle’s disgust, referee Rob Styles awarded Watford a penalty when Mariappa’s right-wing cross struck Nicky Butt on the hand, and the former Manchester United midfielder was booked for protesting.

To add insult to injury, King confidently sent Given the wrong way from the spot for his fourth goal of an injury-hit season.

Buoyed by his goal, King unleashed a right-foot shot from 30 yards which struck Taylor on the chest, and Styles rightly waved away home appeals for another spot-kick.

Both sides made changes in the early stages of the second period, Oguchi Onyewu and Andy Carroll replacing Solano and Shola Ameobi for Newcastle, while for Watford Darius Henderson came on for Hoskins.

McClaren would have held his breath in the 65th minute when Owen went to ground after colliding with his team-mate Pattison’s shoulder.

Clearly dazed, the 27-year-old was carried off on a stretcher in the 67th minute, and was replaced by Alan O’Brien.

There was little noteworthy action in the final 20 minutes of the match, the brightest moment being Williamson’s fierce volley from 25 yards which flew just wide of the right post.