Shay Given has revealed that Michael Owen was in full kit with his 'boots on and everything' when his helicopter landed at Newcastle United's training ground on Christmas Day in 2005.
Owen occasionally used the rotorcraft to make the 45-minute journey from the family home in Flintshire to Newcastle and vice versa during his time on Tyneside.
Some of Owen's team-mates also had access to the helicopter and the former England star later claimed that they dared him to ask his pilot, Mark, to land it at the training ground.
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After spending some time with his wife, Louise, and daughter, Gemma, back in Flintshire, on Christmas morning, that is ultimately what happened.
"Normally, we came in an hour-and-a-half before training to do pre-activation," Given told the Open Goal podcast. "But Graeme Souness said, 'Because it's Christmas Day, I just want you to turn up. Be there for three o'clock on the pitch. Don't be late, but you don't have to be in an hour before. Just make sure you're there'.
"So we're walking on to the pitch at ten to three thinking, 'Owen's not in, is he?' So next thing, four minutes to three, all your hear is, 'Thwup-thwup-thwup-thwup'.
"You look up. It was his helicopter coming over the trees getting closer. It landed on the pitch a minute to three. He steps out with his full kit on. Boots on and everything. 'Happy Christmas, lads!' I swear to God."
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