LONDON (AFP) - Michael Owen is taking inspiration on his long journey back to full fitness after his crippling World Cup knee injury from England rugby hero Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson made a stunning return to action after a three year injury lay-off with a record points haul in England´s Calcutta Cup win over Scotland at the weekend.

And no one could appreciate what Wilkinson had to go through to make it to Tickenham better than Owen whose career has been similarly blighted by injury, the latest misfortune coming when he collapsed in agony seconds into England´s World Cup match against Sweden in Cologne last June.

But as he prepares to step up his recovery in a bid to get back playing for Newcastle before the end of the season Owen is looking to Wilkinson´s recovery as a model for his own.

"There are a lot of similarities in our careers," the England striker told The Times on Tuesday.

"Jonny has had plenty of problems with injuries - his shoulder and his knee - and I´ve obviously got my knee at the minute. Between us, I think we´ve had just about everything.

"But to see him coming back I think the whole of England is delighted when someone that they know can perform at that level comes back and actually does it.

"If you ask him now, he won´t be saying how well he played. He´ll be wanting to keep playing at that level. The best players in the world in any sport have that attitude."

Owen, who ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, is philosophical about this latest reverse in his career and is desperate to play some part in the tail end of his club´s season.

"I haven´t been injured for this length of time before so yes it´s been different, fruistrating, but I´m realistic about things.

"In every walk of life you have ups and downs. Obviously being injured is a low point, but I´ll have plenty more ups and downs in my career in future.

"You just have to grit your teeth and hopefully come back even stronger than ever."

He added: "I´m running this week for the first time since the injuury. That´s the priority and then after that hopefully it will be full training and then playing a game, any old game, a reserve game."