The Owen story was in his Times column in November - where he announced his purchase. Then he got injured at the weekend - new year's holiday - slow news - journalist wanting to file copy and push off. So the Telegraph piece was complete speculation about him taking lessons - however it gets read by all other media. They are similarly lazy/bored/want to get to pub/home - so they repeat it.
Way of the world.
Of course they would be better off investigating why 6 top players (incl Rooney, Neville, Beckham) have had the same injury in less than 3 years - why boots don't offer protection to the top of the foot - and why "blade studs" arrival has triggered these injuries.
But that would be asking a journalist to do some research.....and we all wonder why they get aviation stories screwed up.