Knee op won't end my career - Owen

England striker Michael Owen has been assured his knee operation will not end his career.

Owen, who had the cruciate ligament operation performed by world-famous surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in America, revealed in The Times how he was given the good news as soon as he came round at the clinic in Denver.

“When I came round after my cruciate ligament operation the surgeon was standing by my bedside.

“‘Whatever makes you retire from football it won‘t be your knee,‘ he told me straight away.

“Coming from a man as respected as Dr Richard Steadman that was the perfect way to wake up.

“Perhaps it was walking into his office and seeing all the signed shirts and thank-you letters from dozens of grateful sportsmen, including plenty of familiar names, Alan Shearer, Henrik Larsson, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Craig Bellamy.”