The striker described that particular period of his time with England as 'the darkest phase in his career'.

The press who descended on the north east picked out all the best bits - "'I really started to resent him as a manager" he said, and "I assume the manager had conveyed to his staff what he thought of me - and plainly it wasn't complimentary."

Newcastle are, of course 'a massive club'.

And perhaps it is that status which caused the re-visiting of Owen's book whereas Stan Ternent's tome 'Stan the Man. A hard life in football' was never mentioned when he became assistant to Paul Jewell at Derby County.

I must first say that Ternent's book is a good read.

A real football man's account of a moderately successful life in the game.

The regurgitation of Owen's words made me return to Ternent's - and I reaped the rewards.

The former Burnley boss makes it quite clear that after being number two at Chelsea under Ian Porterfield he "knew that it was a waste of my time and my life to ever be an assistant again."

Interesting, but not as interesting as an incident later in the book during a game between Bury and Bradford City at Valley Parade.

A 20-man brawl broke out on the pitch and in stepped City number two Paul Jewell.

Ternent did not hesitate.

"I dragged him into the dugout, dug him in the ribs and bashed his head against the roof. Suddenly he didn't want to get stuck in anymore."

Fantastic stuff.

And, with Jewell now Ternent's boss at Pride Park, it knocks Owen's 'darkest phase' simpering into a cocked hat.

UP and coming British tennis player Marcus Willis was sent home from the Australian Open.

The 17-year-old missed a bus, was late for training then went AWOL for a few hours before eventually turning up.

None of that is acceptable for a player who, seeded 16 for the junior championships at a Grand Slam, clearly has a professional future.

But what made me smile was that when he eventually arrived on the practice court he realised he had forgotten his rackets.

Presumably someone helped him get dressed then.

"All I was doing was expressing my relief at winning one of our hardest games of the season."

Sir Alex Ferguson's words after being caught on camera making a gesture, possibly in the direction of the Reading fans, at the Madejski Stadium, at the weekend.

Reading? One of the hardest games of the season?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Manchester United boss is likely to have to explain his actions to the Football Association.