Michael Owen should be fit to play in England's B international against Albania on May 25 despite suffering mild concussion in Newcastle's 1-1 draw at Watford.

The 27-year-old striker was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with team-mate Matthew Pattison in the 65th minute, but Newcastle caretaker-manager Nigel Pearson said: "I saw him in the medical room after the game. He was chatting, and there is no problem at all.

"He has mild concussion, but it is nothing too serious and he is fine."

The problems for Newcastle did not end with Owen's injury, though, as controversy surrounded the exclusion of Charles N'Zogbia from the 16-man squad.

N'Zogbia is understood to have left Vicarage Road after learning he would be only on the substitutes' bench, with forward Obafemi Martins also having declared himself unfit to play due to a knee injury.

Pearson continued: "He was on the bench originally, but I changed it. Charles did not really want to be there (on the bench).

"I have no idea whether he stayed at the ground to watch the game.

"You can make your own judgements about it, but it is very important that everyone associated with the club acts in a professional manner.

"Will there be disciplinary action taken? That is something for next week."

Pearson is also unsure about his own future, with Sam Allardyce expected to take over as manager following the departure of Glenn Roeder a week ago.

Pearson has also had a spell as caretaker-manager of West Brom earlier in the campaign, and took charge of the England Under-21s' friendly against Italy at Wembley in March.

He said: "Transitional periods are always potentially very disruptive, and this is no different. It has only been a week, but it has been a long one.

"It has not been particularly easy. Aside from what you know about my future, there is not a great deal to add at this point."

Reflecting on Owen's performance, Pearson insisted: "He is in fantastic nick, and I have no qualms about him at all.

"He will have a headache tonight, but he will be fine."

Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd admitted his team, whose relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship was confirmed by last month's 1-1 draw with Manchester City, had fallen short this season.

They avoided defeat in their final game, with Marlon King's 52nd-minute penalty cancelling out Kieron Dyer's first-half opener, but Boothroyd was disappointed with the display.

"We have lots of soldiers, but not enough artists," he admitted. "We wanted to go out with a bang today, but I don't think we managed it.

"The game had an end-of-season feel about it. Our miss at the end (when Lee Williamson fired into the crowd after finding himself all alone inside the penalty area) summed up our season."

Boothroyd took off goalkeeper Ben Foster in stoppage-time to grant him a standing ovation before his return to Manchester United after a two-year loan spell at Vicarage Road, and give veteran Alec Chamberlain the chance to make the final appearance of his playing career.

Boothroyd added: "Ben has been excellent for us. He has made the odd gaffe, but it is part of his development."