Michael owen's x file

The one-time wonderkid of English football who fired 40 goals in just 89 internationals. The Liverpool legend racked up a stunning strike rate of 118 goals in 216 appearances for the Reds. All of which earned him an £8million move to Real Madrid in 2004 - but, suddenly, the wheels began to come off. He made just 24 starts - plus 18 as sub, scoring 16 goals - and a year later signed for Newcastle where he suffered a catalogue of injuries, was jettisoned by England at 28 and experienced the pain of relegation.

But, last year, there was hope of a comeback when he signed on a free for Alex Ferguson's United.