MICHAEL OWEN 2009 PREMIERSHIP SPECIAL BETS

With Michael Owen completing what many consider to be one of the most apt examples of the overused term "shock transfer", we are seeing the online betting markets heating up with all sorts of special bets and promotions about wee Micky Owen. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid-player (see what I did there?) has so many question marks hanging over him at the moment that I think there are some really solid long-term bets available for this year's action. For me, I think he's going to score plenty of goals at Man U should he be able to stay off the treatment table. Rooney's link up play is the thing that Owen has lacked over the bulk of his recent career, and when Steven Gerrard was feeding in the crosses and through-balls, Owen wasn't struggling to score. My theory is that Owen can only be a world-class finisher if he has a world-class provider playing alongside him- and United have more than one of those. The dream scenario for Owen is likely playing his way back onto the England team for the 2010 World Cup and partnering Rooney up front. It's rare that you refer to a 29 year-old striker as "past it" but there really isn't a better term for Owen since the Real Madrid-era of his career. One top UK bookmaker has placed Owen as the sixth-favourite player (alongside Emmanuel Adebayor) to be named Premiership top scorer at 16/1. Fernando Torres is 5/2 (which is way too short), Didier Drogba is 15/2 while Owen's teammate Wayne Rooney is deadlocked with Nicolas Anelka at 12/1. Skybet are very confident that he will notch at least 10 league goals this year with an under/over of 9.5 at evens for the under and 8/11 for the over bet. Skybet have also set the under/over at 20.5 on his appearances with 5/6 odds on each selection. Owen is 5/2 to score against Liverpool anytime this season. Additionally, he is 15/8 to score on his debut (not a bad bet considering the competition) and 14/1 to receive a yellow card. He's 5/2 to be substituted and that's an absolute lock to me. He is listed at 12/1 to hit the woodwork and 66/1 to be sent off. If you think none of the above will happen, you can get 7/4. The bets count towards the first game Owen plays but, barring injury (yeah, I muffled a laugh as well), he will be lining up against Birmingham.