Former Newcastle United striker Michael Owen admits falling away at the end of his career was difficult to accept.

Owen concedes he fell out of love with the game.

"The first half of it, I loved," he told the Daily Mail.

"Then I got slower. It hurt me massively. It did not put me off football. I adore the game. But playing and thinking (I wasn't the best) caused mental anguish. If I could have accepted not being that good, I'd have played until 36. I'm wired to be different."