'Owen may return in Toon FA Cup tie' - Roeder

LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Newcastle United's caretaker manager Glenn Roeder says injured striker Michael Owen has a chance of playing in next month's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.

'It will be touch and go,' Roeder told the club's official website on Tuesday. 'Apparently, he's certainly not behind (his recovery) time, if anything he might be a little bit ahead of time.'

England striker Owen said earlier this month that he was confident of being fit to return from his broken toe in April.

Owen had a metal pin inserted on the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot after colliding with Tottenham Hotspur's England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on Dec 31.

'He's got no concerns with the way the operation went and the way the injury is healing,' said Roeder. 'Apparently, it is healing really well.

No date has yet been arranged for Newcastle's trip to Stamford Bridge but the game will be played between March 20 and 23.

Roeder said it was difficult to give a precise date for Owen's return.

'He's not doing enough in training yet, he's only just started jogging,' said the former West Ham United manager.

'But he is pleased with the amount of jogging he is doing and he is pain free.'

Owen, who has scored 35 goals in 75 internationals, is a fundamental part of England's plans for the World Cup in Germany.

England play their first group game against Paraguay in Frankfurt on June 10.