Owen was "scared for safety" and asked to be removed from Newcastle game

Michael Owen admits he asked Amazon to take him off punditry for a game at Newcastle United last month amid fears for his own safety.

The former Premier League marksman played for the Magpies as well as Liverpool, Manchester United and Stoke City.

Owen spent an injury-hit four years at St James' Park before leaving after their relegation in 2009.

Alan Shearer has accused the former England star of opting not to play in their crucial clash at Aston Villa, which ultimately sealed their fate.

Newcastle fans have backed their hero and many take issue with Owen's stance.

That, among other issues, has led to the 42-year-old to try and dodge any media duties on Tyneside due to the hostility with the fans.

"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," Owen told the Daily Mail.

"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."

Owen and Shearer were involved in a social media spat, which saw the former accuse Newcastle's record goalscorer of trying to quit the club for a move to Liverpool.

Both men work in the media but Owen believes his former teammate was wrong to begin his war of words.

"I know what Alan thinks and he knows what I think,'" Owen 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 10 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."