22/3/03 - City boss backing Owen to find form

The prolific forward has still to recapture the form that saw him plunder more than 100 goals for the club but the St George's Lane boss is not giving up on the striker.

The 25-year-old battled back to fitness from a broken leg sustained 17 months ago but has endured a stop-start campaign since being dropped for the opening game of the year against Hastings.

Owen has made just 13 starts and 14 substitute appearances scoring three goals and has not been helped by missing a further two months from New Year with a stomach muscle problem.

Barton is keen to see Owen put together a string of games and come re-charged for the challenge of next season.

"I left Mark out of the first game of the season against Hastings and looking back he might well think that I was right to do so," said Barton.

"He wasn't happy at the time but taking him out at that stage was the right thing to do especially when he was returning from a career threatening injury.

"It's been a difficult season for Mark and as I've said before when you are injured you think those are the bad days but the really dark ones come later down the line when you are trying to climb back up again and reach your previous standards.

"That's all part of the recovery but we are not going to give up on him.

"The situation with injuries to other players this season has also not helped him either when he's had to be on the bench when he would have been better playing reserve games. However we've had to balance his needs and those of the team.

"What Mark needs now is to settle down and get some games under his belt.

"I always had it in mind that if we could get some contribution this season all well and good but it's next season that could be the telling one for Mark.

"His situation at the moment is that we are still waiting for the real Mark Owen to come back. It's been hard for him and let's not forget that.

"He has found it tough to get by and been a long way off the Mark we know."