The Newcastle striker ruptured his cruciate knee ligaments in the World Cup finals in June.

He was expected to be out for the season but has his sights set on a return next year.

Owen, 26, said: “I want to get back playing but I’m still in the gym and will be for quite a while. I’ve been rowing, on the bike, working the treadmill on an incline and swimming.

“That’s the case for another four weeks — then we’ll start picking things up. I’ve got to have a scan and in January we’re hoping I’ll be able to push on — then it’ll be all systems go.

“I don’t want to create false belief. I’d love to play again this season but at the moment it’s impossible to tell. You’ve got to have a target though and mine’s to play again this season.”

Owen, signed for £17million from Real Madrid last August, has started just 10 games for the Magpies after suffering a fractured metatarsal last December.

This season Newcastle have made good progress in the UEFA and Carling Cups but are in the Premiership’s bottom three.

Owen added: “We’ve got some important games coming up but Arsenal away is going to be tough on Saturday.

“We need to pick up points in the league and progress in the cups.

“A couple of decent league results would take the pressure off.”