England striker Michael Owen insisted he is not taking risks with his health despite returning to action just days after surgery on a groin injury.
Owen still has stitches in following the operation but came off the Newcastle bench to score a stoppage-time winner against Everton.
Asked if he would need to be careful if he played for England against Estonia on Saturday, he told Sky Sports News: "Not at all.
"No doubt the manager from here will say that and maybe the fans will say that but if I had to look after myself, I wouldn't have made myself available for today.
"The surgeon's advice is what I'll look at more than anything else and she said that I can push it as hard as I want - it's stronger now than it was before the operation."
Owen even thought he should have started against Everton instead of playing just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute for Nigeria international Obafemi Martins.
The 27-year-old added: "To play a game eight days after surgery - I've still got the stitches in - I've put in a lot of hard work.
"I was disappointed not to start, I've been training fully since Thursday.
"I've not missed much training and I felt ready to start but the manager obviously wanted to leave me out and bring me on from the bench."
Asked if he would need to be careful if he played for England against Estonia on Saturday, he told Sky Sports News: "Not at all.
"No doubt the manager from here will say that and maybe the fans will say that but if I had to look after myself, I wouldn't have made myself available for today.
"The surgeon's advice is what I'll look at more than anything else and she said that I can push it as hard as I want - it's stronger now than it was before the operation."
Owen even thought he should have started against Everton instead of playing just 16 minutes after coming on as a substitute for Nigeria international Obafemi Martins.
The 27-year-old added: "To play a game eight days after surgery - I've still got the stitches in - I've put in a lot of hard work.
"I was disappointed not to start, I've been training fully since Thursday.
"I've not missed much training and I felt ready to start but the manager obviously wanted to leave me out and bring me on from the bench."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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