Newcastle striker Michael Owen will be given until tomorrow to prove he is ready to return to action.

The 27-year-old England international will figure in a training ground match today as manager Glenn Roeder assesses whether or not he is ready to be included in the squad for Monday night's Barclays Premiership trip to Reading.

Owen has not played for 10 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup finals last summer.

However, both he and Shola Ameobi, who has appeared in two reserve games after his return from hip surgery, are in contention for the game at the Madejski Stadium.

Roeder said: "I will be looking at both Shola and Michael very carefully in the next couple of days and I will know by the end of training tomorrow whether one or both of them or neither of them will feature in our plans for Reading.

"Shola has played in two reserves matches and he is fine. We are very hopeful for him.

"Michael did not travel to Bolton on Tuesday night with the reserves, but he will take part in an 11 v 11 at our training ground today.

"Don't be surprised if both Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi feature at Reading on Monday night."

Meanwhile, Roeder predictably warned Tottenham off midfielder Kieron Dyer after speculation suggested he will be a target for the Londoners this summer.

He said: "It's absolute nonsense about Spurs — and why after spending so much time in getting Kieron Dyer back into business with us should we consider selling him?

"The only concern I have about Kieron is that he plays a big part in our last three matches."