The 27-year-old Newcastle striker revealed last week he was around two weeks away from returning to full training as his rehabilitation from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament gathers pace.

However, with reports suggesting he is targeting Chelsea's Barclays Premiership visit to St James' Park on April 22 for his comeback, hopes have been raised that he could figure for England against Estonia in Tallinn on June 6.

But Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd has insisted England's plight cannot be any of his concern.

Shepherd said: "I am an England fan and I want to watch them in the Euro finals in 2008.

"But let's stop this clamour for Michael Owen returning to play for England before it gets up a full head of steam.

"Michael Owen will return when it is in the best interests of the player and Newcastle United, not England.

"The player and Newcastle United come first, but he will not be rushed back just so that he can play for England in the summer - and make no mistake about it, if Michael is not fit for Newcastle United this season, he will not be fit for England."

England boss Steve McClaren's desperation to have Owen, who has scored 36 goals in 80 senior international appearances, back in harness is perfectly understandable after a miserable run during which Wayne Rooney's strike in the 1-1 friendly draw in Holland in November represents his side's only goal in five games.

However, Shepherd's reluctance to release his club's £17million record signing for international duty - he is still fighting a battle for compensation with FIFA over Owen's injury suffered during last summer's World Cup - is equally valid.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid hitman has made only 11 appearances for the club in the 19 months since he arrived on Tyneside, scoring seven goals in the process, and has spent months in the treatment room.

Newcastle did everything they could to get him fit for last summer's World Cup finals after me missed all but 29 minutes of the second half of the season with a fractured metatarsal picked up at Tottenham on December 31, 2005.

Their reward was to see the man they hoped would score the bulk of their goals during the current campaign collapse in agony within seconds of the first whistle in England's group clash with Sweden.

Owen's importance to England is undeniable - only Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves have scored more goals for their country, and a clean bill of health could see him overhaul Charlton's record of 49 before he retires.

There is little doubt he would dearly love to be available to answer his country's call in its latest hour of need, although he has repeatedly acknowledged the sense of guilt he feels at having played so little football for Newcastle.

He said last week: "I would think it would be a couple of weeks before I can join in training.

"I am kicking and running straight as hard as I like, and then it is the twisting and turning."

Should he make the Chelsea game, that would leave him three further matches in which to regain full match-fitness ahead of the trip to Estonia.

However, Magpies boss Glenn Roeder, who is yet to be able to name Owen in his starting line-up, is still refusing to pencil him in for any game.

He said: "There is no comeback date for Michael Owen at this moment in time.

"However, I have to say Michael is now flying in training and we are delighted at the progress he is making."

That will be music to McClaren's ears.