Michael Owen over the hill?

England and Newcastle footballer Michael Owen has succeeded in his defamation claim against the Daily Express.

The striker has had an injury plagued career which reached an all time low with the relegation of his club Newcastle United to the Coca-Cola Championship. In the article the Daily Express claimed that he was on the verge of retiring from football because no Premier League clubs wanted to sign him. According to his solicitor: "These incredulous allegations are entirely without foundation and were obviously extremely distressing, hurtful and damaging to the claimant." .

These claims were headed by the following: "Unwanted Toon striker at a cross roads, Finished at 29?" and "Owen ready for sad finale". Owen's solicitor claimed that the timing of the publication (just before an important game) aggravated the player's distress and that the allegations were not put to Owen before publication.

Express Newspapers has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum of damages and Owen's legal costs, they have accepted that the allegations were unfounded and apologised for the distress, embarrassment ad offence caused.

A spokesman for Owen said: "Michael is delighted to have won his case and to have set the record straight."