Bleeping hell! Crouch: We put Michael through paces

POLE DANCING ... Michael Owen in Stoke training

PETER CROUCH has revealed how Michael Owen’s first day at Stoke turned into a bleeping nightmare.

Most clubs usually challenge their new boys to sing in front of their team-mates to break the ice.

But 32-year-old Owen probably would not have had enough puff left, after being put through a series of gruelling fitness tests on his first day at the club’s training complex.

Worst of all was the dreaded ‘bleep’ test, when players are made to run between two points before an electronic bleep sounds.

Players keep making the runs until they can no longer cover the distance in the required time. Then they drop down, exhausted!

Crouch, who hopes at some point to team up with his former England team-mate against Manchester City today, said: “Michael arrived from Manchester United during the international break, so was spared any initiation tests.

“The only special ‘present’ he received on his first day was the bleep test.
“The fitness boys really worked him to assess what kind of shape he was in.

“The manager and coaching staff had to know what he was capable of before they throw him in. To be fair, he looked very sharp.

“He has been out a long time and didn’t have a normal pre-season under his belt. But he looked good to me and, if we get a fully fit Michael Owen on a free transfer, it’s some deal for Stoke.

“We haven’t made him sing or do anything silly yet. But we signed a lot of new boys this summer so maybe it’s time we got our heads together and dreamed up something for them!”

Crouch feared Owen was going to slip through the Potters’ fingers at the last moment, with speculation rife that Liverpool were on the verge of a swoop.

He confessed: “It was a concern and I was a bit surprised Brendan Rodgers didn’t try to take him.

“He has said before he was short of strikers and someone like Michael Owen is a great signing for anyone.

“He definitely raises the global awareness of Stoke City and we’ve brought in other fantastic players like Charlie Adam, Steven N’Zonzi and Michael Kightly.

“Three or four years ago, these players would not have dreamed of coming to Stoke. But guys of the calibre of Michael Owen want to come here now.

“I think they can see the club is hoping really to push on and make an impact on the Premier League.”