OTHER SPORT

OWEN IN ANOTHER SETBACK

INJURY CONCERNS: Owen will see a specialist today

Monday September 24,2007

By Mick Dennis

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MICHAEL OWEN will see a specialist today to discover if he needs an operation which would keep him out of England’s critical European qualifying matches.

The striker, who scored three goals in England’s last two Euro 2008 qualifiers, hobbled off after 51 minutes of Newcastle’s 3-1 win over West Ham yesterday.

It was the second time in two games Owen has failed to finish and the suspicion is growing that he has a hernia and requires surgery.

If he does need an operation Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce will order him to have it now instead of soldiering on to be available for England’s matches at home to Estonia and in Russia next month.

“England doesn’t come into the equation,” said Allardyce, who blamed last week’s defeat by Derby on the fact 14 of his players were on international duty before the game.

He added: “I took Michael off against Derby, but against West Ham he needed to come off because he was struggling with his groin. It is a disappointment and a worry.

“We’ll put Michael Owen’s interests ahead of everything else, but that is also helping the interests of Newcastle. If he needs an op, he must have it straight away so that he gets properly fit as soon as possible.”