GLENN Roeder has hinted that Michael Owen could be a surprise starter when Newcastle travel to Birmingham tomorrow.

Despite the fit-again forward revealing he only expects to play for the final 20 minutes at St Andrew's, Roeder has floated the possibility of him making his first start since breaking a metatarsal in the New Year's Eve defeat at Tottenham.

Owen will have a full week of training under his belt by the time the Magpies take to the field for their penultimate game of the season and, with a UEFA Cup spot still in reach, Roeder is ready to do all he can to maximise his side's chances of a top-six finish.

"At this stage I'm very hopeful," said the caretaker boss. "Michael was delighted to be involved in the squad last weekend even though he knew he was not going to be involved.

"He hadn't done quite enough, but I wanted Michael to come down to the dressing room before the game and it was great for the other players to see him.

"Since Monday, he's been looking really good. It's been difficult for him when he's been out injured, but now he's back in the thick of things with the broadest of smiles on his face.

"We will see how training goes (later today). If it goes as well as Monday and Tuesday, he will be mightily close to being able to start.

"We'll let Birmingham think about whether or not Michael is going to start or be on the bench, but I would like to think he will play a big part in the game."

Nevertheless, it would be a major surprise if Owen made his 11th start of the season tomorrow. The striker cannot be expected to be match sharp after such a lengthy spell on the sidelines and, while Roeder insists Newcastle are his only concern, he is aware of the national outcry that would accompany any further problems to England's leading centre-forward.

"I've been training since Monday and it has been really good, much better than I thought," said the 26-year-old. "I was worried that I would have a bit more pain the more I played, but it has been great.

"With a muscle I suppose you can go at half-pace to protect it, but with a bone it's either not healed or it's okay, so on the first day I was doing sliding tackles and it has been fine.

"I haven't spoke to the manager in detail yet, but I think it would probably be sensible after being out for just under five months, to gradually give me maybe 20 minutes (tomorrow) and then more in the next game."

* Thierry Henry has been named Footballer of the Year for a record third time by the Football Writers' Association.

Henry, 28, is the first player in 59 years of the award to receive the accolade three times.

John Terry came second, Wayne Rooney third and Steven Gerrard fourth in the votes cast by the country's football writers.

* Chelsea have been fined £10,000 by the FA after their players surrounded referee Mark Halsey during the clash against West Brom last month.

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