Owen backed out of covering Newcastle game for Amazon as he was 'scared for my safety'

The former Liverpool and Magpies striker has opened up on the hate he still gets from fans over his dreadful spell on Tyneside, and how he still hasn't patched things up with old teammate Alan Shearer.

Owen was one of the most talented strikers English football has ever seen but, unfortunately for the former hitman, most fans prefer not to remember him that way after burning more than a few bridges.

Things like this iconic exchange with Everton legend Neville Southall certainly didn't help…

He'd be remembered as a Liverpool great and one of their all-time top players had he not joined arch rivals Manchester United in the latter stages of his career - an unforgivable sin for many Reds supporters… although he still plays in legends matches at Anfield.

At Newcastle, Owen arrived to great fanfare as he joined from Real Madrid in 2005 for a club-record £16.8million, but his injury record, his conduct and the manner of his exit have ensured his Magpies career has a bitter memory.

He departed four years later after Newcastle were relegated under interim boss and club legend Shearer, with the former teammates for club and country then caught up in a rather public falling out years later.

Now, Owen says he's so fearful of his own safety that he dare not go back to St James', even as a pundit, telling the Daily Mail how he recently pulled out of working for Newcastle's Premier League clash against Norwich at the end of November.

But, the 42-year-old insisted he would like to return to Newcastle one day, admitting he regrets a lot of his actions during his time with the club - including his notorious purchase of a helicopter.

In an interview to mark 20 years since Owen won the Ballon d'Or - the last English winner of the prize - he said about his broken relationship with the Toon: "As soon as I left, everyone hated me. But I never, ever felt that when I was there - I felt love, be that around the city, the pub or wherever.

"I was supposed to do the game against Norwich last month. I phoned Amazon and said, 'I don't really want to go, I'm scared for my safety', so they changed my game.

"I wish it was different. I would love to ask the fans, 'Why don't you like me?', and have the chance to give my side.

"Of course, I get some of the reasons. The worst thing I did was buy a helicopter for my family to travel up and down. It's a s*** perception.

"People had this impression I was flying home after training each day. I wasn't. I loved the area. But perception wise, it was an own goal. I would change that.

"Then there were the injuries. I never wanted to be injured, but the one that set it all off was putting my boot in for Newcastle at Spurs on New Year's Eve in 2005 and breaking my foot. I then went to the World Cup and did my knee. It was a nightmare - for me, the fans, the club.

"I was gutted, because when I first signed we were flying. We were bottom of the league but shot up the table. Me and Al [Shearer] were scoring loads of goals and loving life.

"I know I've said I wanted to join Liverpool instead of Newcastle. I did, I won't hide that. The same way Alan wanted to sign for his team, Newcastle, ahead of Man United.

"But if I didn't want to go to Newcastle that much, I wouldn't have bloody signed. I still chose Newcastle over Real Madrid. I wanted to play with Shearer in front of those fans, and I have some great memories. Scoring two against Sunderland, banging them in with [Mark] Viduka and [Obafemi] Martins under Kevin Keegan.

"But the last season was a disaster, for everyone. It could have been so different, and I really wish it had of been."

Owen also admitted he and Shearer have not spoken since their social media spat, where the pair went hammer and tongs two years ago over the striker's injuries and - Shearer claimed - lack of desire to play for the famous black and white shirt

"I know what Alan thinks and he knows what I think," he added. "But he's stubborn and I'm stubborn.

"I lived in his house when I first signed for Newcastle, we played golf every day. I was big mates with him. But he started something that I thought was wrong.

"I like Alan, as it happens. I know what would happen if we were in a room. We'd shake hands, have a little stare at each other.

"We'd need ten minutes to each say our piece and he would still believe what he believes and I would still tell him you're barking up the wrong tree. We'd stubbornly agree to disagree and have a pint together.

"But if he thinks I was pulling out of a game against Aston Villa… I was born to play big games. I know why he thinks that. Do you think he's going to look in the mirror and say, 'That was my fault, I was a bad manager'?

"He has to blame someone, I would be the same. I used to get in the car on a Saturday with my dad when I hadn't scored and say my teammates were at fault.

"I don't blame Alan for thinking Newcastle being relegated was nothing to do with him. Find scapegoats, it's great for the mind. I used to do it all the time.

"But deep down I think he knows he's wrong to think that. He just won't admit it."