Michael Owen, the Newcastle and England striker, is setting his sights on returning to action "as strong as ever" in April as it emerged his recovery from injury is gathering momentum.

"I'm hoping to play again this season," Owen was quoted as saying in Newcastle's match-day programme for today's game with Manchester United. "That's the big target. But it's a long way ahead and all I can say is that when people ask if I'll play again by, say April, they aren't saying no. Everything is so far so good.

"Presuming it remains a steady progression, I'm hoping to be back in April. If it's May, though, it probably wouldn't be worth it, say, for one game. April is what I'm aiming for, but I don't want to give any false promises to myself or anyone. How can you judge it precisely when you've had a serious injury like this? It's difficult to judge when I will be back. But when I ask the medical people if I'll be playing again this season no one is saying I can't."

The £17 million player has undergone two operations on the cruciate ligament damage that he suffered during the World Cup, but the latest scans have delighted Dr Richard Steadman, his American surgeon, who has reported that Owen's knee is in pristine condition.

"By February I hope to start jogging, but if things are going well we can progress more quickly," Owen said. "It's been reasonably straightforward so far, but that's when the big test comes. It's going to be a long haul back to fitness and you have your ups and downs. But I've been quite positive all the way through. Whenever I do come back I'm sure I will come back as strong as ever.

"I'm doing the machinery work now – swimming, treadmill, bike – but I'm not allowed to do any sort of sudden movements. I'm also doing light weights now with heavier work later.

"I've got to turn this into a positive and come back stronger. Not having a hectic year of playing could prolong it [the knee] at the other end of my career as you can lose muscle strength if you keep getting injuries in the same area. I don't know whether it will work like that for me.

"You develop a mindset when you know how long you're going to be out. When I broke my foot at White Hart Lane a year ago yesterday, I had a nightmare for half an hour, then saw the X-ray and asked all the questions, then I got my head round it.

"The only problem then is if, and when, you get setbacks. So in terms of this one, as soon as the knee went, and we were in the dressing room and they said 'cruciate', I asked: 'How long's that going to be?'. Once I knew the answer I was realistic about it. You've got to get on with your life as well."