MICHAEL Owen has launched a defence of his conduct at Newcastle United.

Owen ended four unhappy years at St James’ Park this summer when his career appeared to move backwards at a rapid rate.

A couple of major injuries in his early years did not help and then when he was fit, the Magpies had descended into chaos under the ownership of Mike Ashley, ultimately ending in the humiliation of relegation into the Championship.

As his contract ran out, Owen knew he would not be following them and instead took up a surprise offer from Sir Alex Ferguson to join Manchester United.

But the star striker has been stung by repeated criticism of his behaviour, particularly helicopter flights back to his Cheshire home from the North-East and a fledgling horse-breeding business being run by his wife Louise.

Both have been used as evidence Owen’s heart was not with the Newcastle, a damning verdict on their £18m record signing which he is anxious to counter.

‘‘You learn to understand the reaction but if you do step back, you think it is strange or unfair,’’ he said.

‘‘When you are being relegated, nobody is interested in listening to you. But I knew it was all to do with me not scoring.

‘‘If you don’t score and you don’t win, you are wrong to have a helicopter and fly home each week to see your kids. You are wrong to have a business outside of football.

You are wrong to plan for the future.

‘‘If the goals had been going in I would have been a great lad, popping home to see my three kids and be a family man on a Tuesday after training.

I would have been thoughtful and innocent little things would not be misrepresented.’’ In fact, for the team Newcastle became, returns of 13 and ten goals respectively during the past two seasons were not bad totals.

Yet Owen knows he was capable of better, as he hopes to prove at Old Trafford.

His affection for Newcastle ensures he will not launch an all-out attack on a club that seems on a mission to self-destruct.

However, mere commonsense dictates the backdrop to life on Tyneside meant producing his best form was impossible.

‘‘There is no hiding from the fact it was disappointing at Newcastle because the team got relegated,’’ he reflected.

‘‘I played 33 games, so I will not shirk my share of the blame. What I would say is whether you are the best or worst player in the world you are a human being.

“You are affected by the surroundings, the mood of people, by confidence. I could have done more and score more goals but the team was lacking in confidence.

“It was not playing well, there was a (new) manager every two minutes and unrest at board level.

‘‘In a situation like that you cannot name many players who have played well on a consistent basis over the years.

Everyone’s standards drop.

‘‘I don’t want to say I was dragged down by Newcastle because I have a lot of respect for the club and had some good times.

“But I do believe I play better in a team full of confidence.’’