Michael Owen tells daughter Gemma to get home after runner-up spot in Love Island

Gemma Owen, and partner Luca Bish, finished second in the ITV2 dating series, with Ekin-Su Culculoglu and Davide Sanclimenti beating them to the £50,000 prize.

Former Liverpool and England striker Owen posted a message on Instagram following the final expressing his pride for his daughter.

He wrote: "What a special girl. So proud of you, @gemowen_1. Now get home as we've all missed you."

Owen has been reluctant to speak about his daughter Gemma while Love Island has been going on for the last few weeks.

He was working as a pundit for England's Nations League game with Germany in June and presenter Jules Breach asked him about it just seconds into the programme.

Keen to move on from the inevitable jokes, he said: "I came all the way to Germany to try and avoid all that back home, but it has been brought up straight away! But I am feeling alright. This is taking my mind off it so don't bring it back up."

He also posted an emoji of a face covering eyes with hands on Twitter after Gemma took part in the 'heart rate challenge' where she, along with the other contestants, were tasked with dressing up in seductive outfits with the aim of raising the pulses of everyone else.

Michael did not come to see his daughter Gemma in the closing stages of the dating series, but his wife Louise did reveal his thoughts about her time on the show.

After Gemma asked what her father felt about how she had handled herself, Louise told her: "Honestly, he is really proud of you, really proud."