Michael Owen has been expressing his frustrations at another injury-hit season.

The Stoke City striker, who is on the bench for the Potters in their FA Cup match against Manchester City, has made just six appearances since joining the club in September.

Speaking in the matchday programme for today's cup tie, the 33-year-old said: "I felt involved right from the off really, but since then it hasn't quite worked out as planned for whatever reason and part of that is due to having a couple of niggling injuries, but other parts of it are down to other reasons.

"The season hasn't gone the way I wanted it to because I have hardly played, hardly scored and haven't really been involved in the season at all as yet.

"Hopefully though, the second half of the season can be a lot better for me."

The former Liverpool and Manchester United player scored his first goal for the club in their 3-1 defeat to Swansea last weekend.

Owen's career has been blighted by a series of injuries, including a snapped hamstring, a broken metatarsal and a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.