Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce expects to play Michael Owen in tomorrow's clash with Everton.

Owen himself is understandably desperate to play for both Newcastle and England after a miserable run of injuries over his two seasons or so on Tyneside.

However, Allardyce will not allow him to put himself at risk.

He said: "We have to bear in mind his previous, and his recent previous has not been too good when he has tried to complete a number of games.

"He has had two sets of surgery, even though they were only minor and an adductor, and I am always very protective for the future.

"I won't be over-protective, but protective enough not to put myself into trouble in the future by risking Michael Owen too early.

"That is a big decision to make. Every player when he thinks he is fit from his injury, thinks he it fit to play, and sometimes as a manager, you have got to look a bit longer and deeper than that."