Premiership: Owen suffers new injury blow

Michael Owen has been struck down by another hamstring injury, and is now definitely out of England's crunch World Cup decider with Greece.

That is the outcome of an injury just six minutes from the end of Liverpool's 1-0 win over Spurs, with Owen leaving Anfield on crutches.

Owen, who had felt that he was over his constant hamstring problems of a couple of season ago, collapsed in the penalty area after a chase and shot which went wide.

Reds physio Dave Galley rushed to his aid, and instantly signalled to the bench that it was more than just a minor injury.

When a downcast Owen reached the Liverpool bench, Spurs boss Glenn Hoddle came to the touchline to pat him on the head, and Owen went straight to the dressing room for treatment.

Boss Gerard Houllier confirmed: "It's the hamstring in his left leg. He will be out for a number of weeks.

"I feared the worst when he didn't get up after missing that chance. It's his left leg. To be fair, he's had trouble with both hamstrings in the past but not now for some time.

"It is a sad footnote to our victory. He said he felt something go as he went to shoot.

"It wasn't as if it was his first sprint after coming on as substitute. He had already had a couple of runs so he was warmed up.

"We will not know for sure the extent of the injury until after he's had a scan on Sunday. But I feel it is just a pull rather that a more serious tear.

"There's a chance he could be back for our league game with Leeds (on October 13) but he will certainly be out for a minimum of three weeks."

The news is a massive blow to England and Liverpool. England's hat-trick hero of Munich was being lined up as the man to complete England's qualification by beating Greece at Old Trafford on October 6.

But now Owen is out of that final qualifier as well, almost certainly, as Liverpool's Champions League clashes with Dynamo Kiev on September 26 and October 16.