GO SPORTS

MICHAEL OWEN FACT FILE  1979:  Born December 14, Chester. 1995:  Beats the goalscoring record of Kevin Gallen and Nick Barmby for England Under 15s. 1996:  Helps Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup in May. Signs professional terms with Liverpool on 17th birthday after previously joining them as a schoolboy. 1997:  May 6 - Scores on his first-team debut against Wimbledon. November 18 - Nets his first senior hat-trick against Grimsby in the League Cup. 1998:  February 11 - Becomes youngest England international of the 20th century when he starts against Chile. February 14 - Scores his first Premier League hat-trick against Sheffield Wednesday. Finishes season joint-top scorer in the Premier League with 18 goals. May 31 - Named in England's World Cup squad of 22. June 22 - Scores after coming on as substitute against Romania but England lose 2-1. June 30 - Scores a sensational goal against Argentina before England bow out of France '98 on pe...

Manchester United are ready to spark a bidding war for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. The Premier League leaders are keen to sign an imposing keeper as competition for current No 1 David de Gea. They shattered the British transfer record when they paid  Atletico Madrid  £18.3m for De Gea in May, 2011.

Petr Cech is the surprise name on Arsenal’s six-man shortlist to replace goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny next season. The Chelsea keeper has been watched extensively by Gunners scouts. Cech remains Chelsea’s first-choice keeper and a move across London would be one of the most unexpected transfers in recent memory but there are continued suggestions that highly rated Thibault Courtois, who is on loan at Atletico Madrid from Chelsea, could replace Cech next season.

Peter Odemwingie will not be hauled off Twitter as he prepares to face manager Steve Clarke for the first time since his latest outburst on the social networking site.  He will be fined two weeks wages (£76,000) and might have played his last game for the club. The striker is unhappy at the club and says he wishes to be sacked by the club. Odemwingie also claimed he would have taken a pay cut to move to QPR 

Stoke City striker Michael Owen has declared that he will end his playing career at the end of the season. The 32-year-old joined Stoke on a one-year deal after leaving Manchester United last summer and has revealed he will be hanging up his boots once his current deal expires. He has struggled to make an impact for Tony Pulis' side in the Premier League this season scoring just the one goal during a handful of first-team appearances.

Manchester United  defender  Rio Ferdinand  has withdrawn from  England 's squad to face  San Marino  and  Montenegro . The 34-year-old met with Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson in London on Sunday evening, with both parties reaching an agreement that the centre-back's specific training and medical requirements could not be fulfilled during the international break.