Michael Owen's preparations for the new season are in his own words "three weeks behind", after he contracted mumps.

Initially diagnosed as a virus, the case of mumps saw him forced to withdraw from England's post-season friendlies against the USA and Trinidad & Tobago.

From the NHS Direct website:

"One in four men who catch mumps over the age of 12 may develop inflammation of one or both testicles. This can be very painful, especially if it affects both testes."