UK, Aug 09: Michael Owen added his name to the list of people who believe that English football requires a winter break. The Liverpool and England striker believes a break would aided England's chances of winning the World Cup.
But his request may well fall on deaf ears after Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore claimed club chairmen had 'no stomach' for a reduction in fixtures or clubs in the top flight.
"It would have been beneficial to have headed for the World Cup feeling a lot fresher," said Owen.
"The amount of games and training we got through in a short period meant there were injuries going into the tournament. "It is the length of the season and the intensity of it. And when you carry on after that, with the build-up to the World Cup, it does take it out of you."
Owen confirmed after the defeat to Brazil in the World Cup quarter-final that he had been carrying an injury which hampered his movement.
And his club team-mates Steven Gerrard, Danny Murphy and Jamie Carragher all suffered World Cup heartbreak because of injuries picked up at the end of the domestic season.
According to Scudamore, even though the idea of a break is a good one, it is not feasible.
"We would like to have a winter break, but we can't see practically how to have one."
Bureau Report