English Striker Owen break Foot

Michael Owen fractures metatarsal bone
Reuters

LONDON -- England striker Michael Owen faces a lengthy layoff after breaking a bone in his foot during Newcastle United's 2-0 Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Owen, who was injured shortly before halftime in a collision with Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson, will be out for two to three months after fracturing his fifth metatarsal, according to a report on the BBC.

The injury is unlikely to threaten his participation in the World Cup finals, although it is a major blow to struggling Newcastle who paid 17 million pounds ($29 million) to bring Owen back to English football from Real Madrid in August.

"It's a mighty blow," Newcastle maanger Graeme Souness said. "It's an absolute disaster for him and an absolute disaster for the club. It's a dark day for us."

Despite Newcastle's mediocre form, the 26-year-old Owen has forged a dangerous strike partnership with former England team mate Alan Shearer, scoring seven league goals, including a hat-trick against West Ham United earlier this month.

Owen also scored a memorable late double to hand England a stunning 3-2 victory over Argentina in a friendly international in November.

Several other England players have broken their fifth metatarsal in recent years. Liverpool's Steven Gerrard suffered the same injury in September 2004 and Wayne Rooney limped out of Euro 2004.

As if things were not babd enough for Newcastle manager Graeme Souness with results going against them lately,Now without their goal scoring threat they are going to struggle even more especially as theyare not very solid at the back..