Michael Owen is heading for war with Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd.

Owen, returning from a knee injury, is desperate to play in England’s friendly with Brazil on June 1.

But a Toon insider said: “Freddy is fuming about this.

"He doesn’t see why Michael should be able to go off and play for England when he has hardly figured for Newcastle.”

Striker Owen, 27, is expected to return to the Newcastle team for next Sunday’s home clash with Chelsea — his first game after suffering a serious knee injury at last summer’s World Cup.

Shepherd has been at loggerheads with the FA over compensation for Owen’s injury as Soho Square chiefs are only paying half of his £110,000-a-week wages.

Shepherd is in no mood to let Owen line up for England after spending so long on the sidelines.

He also reckons the striker is not showing enough loyalty to the club.