Fans shocked to see Michael Owen on Deal or No Deal… as fellow England legends help him win cash for charity

SHOCKED viewers saw Michael Owen appear on Deal or No Deal – and produce a performance as tense as any penalty shootout.

Fellow ex-England attackers Emile Heskey and John Barnes joined their former Liverpool team-mate and his family in a game show of two halves.

ITV 1Viewers were impressed Michael Owen turning his fortunes round[/caption]

ITV 1Presenter Stephen Mulhern reckons Owen showed ‘a lot of courage’[/caption]

ITV 1John Barnes helped out Owen as viewers were gripped[/caption]

Fans initially slammed Owen for “stinking” in the “worst start ever seen”.

But the pundit stormed back in a festive version of the hit ITV programme.

One viewer said: “Michael Owen on Deal or No Deal. I can’t switch it off.”

Another claimed: “This is so cringe, and I should be taking the kid to bed, but here I still am.”

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United ace recovered from a shaky early doors to see the low cash prizes wiped off the board.

That left the 44-year-old dreaming of the £100,000 jackpot for charity.

One armchair observer raved: “Michael Owen is absolutely smashing it on Deal or no Deal.”

Another pondered: “Who’d have thought Michael Owen would be part of a cracking Deal or No Deal.”

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But the show’s second – and this time unwanted – turning point – came when Owen rejected a “banker’s offer” of £10,200 and discovered he had rejected a huge sum held by his daughter, Love Island star Gemma.

One viewer responded: “Michael Owen saying “No Deal’ to £10k and Gemma’s box having £25k in it” – and added a meme saying, “What was your thought process behind that?”

In the end, the ex-Newcastle hitman scooped £5k.

Asked by presenter Stephen Mulhern to assess his efforts, Owen said: “A wobble at the start, then we came on strong. A few grand is good.”

Mulhern insisted the 89-cap icon had shown “a lot of courage”.

Wife Louise was also among proud members of Owen’s family taking part.

Owen’s wife Louise shows the tension as he turned down £10.2k

Love Island star Gemma enjoyed her dad’s efforts on the ITV show