Owen’s on £7k a minute

TAKING THE MICK ... Michael Owen

STOKE have paid Michael Owen a staggering £7,000 a MINUTE to play.

The crocked striker is on £25,000 a week.

But he has played only 53 minutes since signing in September and his latest comeback has been put back until after the busy Christmas fixture schedule, ruining his 33rd birthday today.

Owen’s pro-rata pay works out THREE TIMES what Yaya Toure has earned per first-team minute at Manchester City... and he is on £220,000 a week.

The ex-Liverpool and Manchester United star is yet to start a Stoke match in more than 14 weeks but had hoped to make his return from hamstring trouble from the bench against Everton on Saturday.

But boss Tony Pulis said: “Michael needs more work — a couple of weeks of full training and then a full game or two.

“Every time we get him there, he breaks down so maybe we have brought him back too soon so we’ll give him more time.”

Former England ace Owen’s next target is a reserve game on Monday at Rotherham. He did play 70 minutes in a friendly against Preston on Tuesday.

Pulis wants Ryan Shawcross’ new six-year contract signed and sealed — and is ready to take the
gloves off to do it. Defender Shawcross, 25, has yet to pen the most lucrative deal ever offered to a Stoke player.

Pulis said: “I’ll have to take the gloves off and throw some proper punches to get it sorted.

“There’s a couple of sticking points on both sides.”