Alan Shearer has criticised Michael Owen for revealing he "couldn't wait to retire" during the last few years of his career, which included time spent under Shearer at Newcastle.

Owen scored more than 200 goals in a 17-year club career which began at Liverpool and featured spells with Real Madrid, Newcastle, Manchester United and Stoke.

But he said injuries forced him to change his game and that a fear of sprinting led to him taking up positions on the field where team-mates would not play passes which required him to chase.

"I was quick, running in channels, beating people," Owen, 38, told BT Sport. "That's who I was - compared to the last six or so years when I turned into the only thing I could.

"I was petrified of running into a channel. I just knew I was going to tear a muscle. The worst thing about it is your instinct is to do what you have done all your life but you start thinking: 'Oh no, don't.'