Owen eyeing Boavista return

Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen has an outside chance of being involved in next Wednesday's UEFA Champions League visit to Boavista FC after returning to training on Friday.

Pulled hamstring
The England international, who scored against the Portuguese champions at Anfield on Matchday One, is back in full training with the FA Premiership outfit after pulling a hamstring in a 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur FC last month.

'Light session'
Stand-in manager Phil Thompson, deputising for the recovering Gérard Houllier, said of Owen: "Michael has had his first day's training with the full squad since he was injured. We had a light session, but it's good to see him back."

Unchartered territory
German international midfielder Dietmar Hamann has also resumed training after a calf injury and Liverpool may organise a behind-closed-doors friendly to test the pair's fitness before the trip to Porto. A win for the UEFA Cup holders will see them progress to the second phase of the competition in what is their debut campaign in the Champions League.

Gone West
Liverpool, meanwhile, have flatly denied claims that Taribo West is about the join the club. The Nigerian, who was on loan with Derby County FC last season, has been reported as telling an African radio station that he is on the verge of joining Liverpool. But Thompson said: "I can assure everyone that Taribo West will not be joining Liverpool or anything like that. Absolutely not."