Michael Owen opens up on son's tragic diagnosis that cost him career in football

Former Manchester United star Michael Owen has spoken about his son's eye condition that ended his hopes of a football career. James Owen, 17, is featuring in a TNT Sports documentary to raise awareness about those who have lost full sight.

In an interview with Mail Online, Owen revealed he had hoped his son would follow in his footsteps as a Premier League footballer before being diagnosed with Stargardt - a condition that affects the retina's ability to focus central vision.

"It's probably the worst question, not that I ever show it or say it to anybody. You find yourself either having to make an excuse or say he's not interested and people look at you and say 'He's not interested in football?' Then you have to explain everything and you end up in a conversation you don't really want to have with anybody," said Owen, who played for United under Sir Alex Ferguson between 2009 and 2012.

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"When someone comes up to you in the pub and asks 'Does your son play?' you just want to change the subject. That's probably been the hardest thing over the years. James probably wasn't enjoying football as much as he should have been because he wasn't as good as he should have been."

"When he was very young and his eyes were probably slightly better than they are now and the pitches were smaller and everything was a lot closer so he could see the ball better, he was very, very good. I said to my dad and my wife and everyone 'He's got a right chance here of being a footballer'. But then as soon as he got diagnosed, he just sort of gradually stopped. He coped with it