Houllier predicts an awesome finish by Owen

Gerard Houllier is backing a fit-again Michael Owen to have a storming finish to the season.

The Liverpool boss, who takes his side to Molineux tonight to face a Wolverhampton side buoyed by victory over Manchester United, said: 'It doesn't matter how important or difficult a situation might be, he always seems to come up with something special.

'I have yet to come across anything Michael has been unable to cope with. Nothing seems to ruffle him. One thing is for sure. If he stays injury-free, he is going to finish this season stronger than ever.'

Owen has spent the past fortnight making regular dashes to the hospital bedside of girlfriend Louise Bonsall, who was seriously injured in a riding accident.

But Houllier added of his star striker: 'Not only can he separate any personal worries from his professional commitments, he has this knack of making a decisive contribution whenever we are involved in a big occasion.

'There is a kind of sparkle he brings to those games and that can have a crucial bearing on what happens between now and May.

'You would normally expect even the very best to start accumulating records and milestones when they are approaching their late twenties, but Michael has been doing that since he was a teenager.

'He is still getting back to his best after so long out, but he is close now. It only takes two or three games with him and once he is back among the goals, there will be no stopping him.'