By Craig Hope

MICHAEL Owen has denied criticising the tactics of England coach Fabio Capello after newspaper reports twisted his post-match comments following the midweek friendly defeat in France.

The Magpie skipper was bemused when he awoke to headlines on Friday morning suggesting he had told reporters that he was unaware of his role after being sent on as a half-time substitute at the Stade de France.

But the striker was quick to play down those claims when asked about the situation on Friday afternoon.

"It happens a lot in football," said a player who has scored 40 times from 89 games for his country.

"But I spoke to the media after the game on Wednesday night and I was asked the question, 'How do you see your role in the team now that you've not played in two games consecutively?'

"I said that's a question you'll have to ask the manager.

"However subsequently in the papers that's been misconstrued to mean that you'll have to ask the manager what my role is when I came on to play.

"So obviously then there has been headlines like 'Clueless' and all these different words.

"Of course I knew my role and responsibility, and everything else, when I stepped onto the field, but I was answering a different question and obviously it's come out like this.

"But I've never been critical about the management or about England, I have nothing but positive things to say about the new management and to make it look as though I was criticising the new manger was totally wrong and obviously very disappointing."

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