Awards came off the pitch too. He was voted PFA Young Player of the Year for season 1997-98, and in 1998 was also voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

Owen was in the England Euro 2000 squad and played in all three group games against Portugal, Germany and Romania - against whom he scored. Like Emile Heskey and Robbie Fowler, he will be looking to consolidate his position up front for Kevin Keegan's side following the retirement of Alan Shearer from international football.

From a debut strike for the Reds at Wimbledon in 1997 to scoring one of the goals of the tournament for England in the 1998 World Cup in France against Argentina, Owen is one of the brightest talents to emerge in this country for many years. And despite having one of the most talked about hamstrings in football the forward still managed to finish top scorer last season, hitting 12 in 30 outings. But, with his injury worries now behind him, Owen will look to demonstrate once again the sort of form that first brought him to national prominence.

Owen's first season in the Premiership saw him hit 21 goals in the 1997-98 campaign, then another 23 during the 1998-99 season.