Newcastle assessing Owen injury

England striker Michael Owen was back in the hands of Newcastle’s medical team today as they attempted to assess the full extent of the damage to his knee.

The 26-year-old visited the club’s Darsley Park training headquarters this morning with his father Terry and met physios Paul Ferris and Kevin Bell, as well as chairman Freddy Shepherd.

It is understood the club fear he not only ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in England’s 2-2 World Cup draw with Sweden on Tuesday evening, but also damaged the medial ligament, a factor which could sideline him for even longer than was first thought.

Newcastle will seek a swift assessment before finalising plans for surgery to repair the damage, and then embrak upon a long and gruelling period of rehabilitation with their £17m (€24m) striker.

In the meantime, Owen has been buoyed by messages of support from the club’s fans after being greeted by a pile of e-mails on his arrival.

He told the club’s official website, www.nufc.co.uk: “The injury is a big blow because after the World Cup, I was really looking forward to the new season with Newcastle United.

“Now I have to accept I’m going to be out for a while again, but what will help me is the support of the fans, and I really appreciate all the messages they have sent in and their best wishes.

“And I look forward to the day I can thank them by getting back out on the pitch and scoring goals for the team in a Newcastle shirt.”