Michael Owen has been ruled out of England's two Euro 2008 qualifiers in October with a tear in his groin.
The 27-year-old will see a specialist on Thursday to determine whether he also needs a hernia operation.

"It will be three weeks out and he will miss England with his groin," said Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce.

"Michael would miss England anyway with his groin tear so we might as well check up to see whether he needs a hernia operation."

Owen, who has a 3cm tear in his abductor muscle, is understood to have seen a surgeon in Bradford earlier this week to determine the extent of his hernia problem
It has been suggested that as a result of the surgeon's findings Owen will have an operation in Germany on Friday carried out by Ulrike Muschaweck.

Allardyce added: "Owen will probably need another operation but the other specialist has not told us that yet.

"Whoever does the surgery cannot say whether he needs a hernia operation or not until they have seen him, unless they are magic and they can see over here from Germany."
England face crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia on 13 and 17 October.

Owen netted three times in September's qualifying victories over Israel and Russia after missing the majority of the 2006-07 campaign because of a cruciate ligament injury suffered at the 2006 World Cup finals.

He limped out of Newcastle's match on Sunday and was also substituted during the Magpies previous game, a 1-0 defeat at Derby on Monday 17 September.

A hernia operation could rule him out of action for two months.

England boss Steve McClaren is already without Emile Heskey, who partnered Owen up front for both those wins, after the Wigan striker suffered a broken metatarsal on 15 September.

Joe Cole is also suspended for the Estonia game, although Wayne Rooney is available.



OWEN'S INJURY RECORD AT NEWCASTLE
31 Dec 2005: Breaks metatarsal at Spurs, misses several months
24 Mar 2006: Foot has still not healed, Newcastle announce he has had minor surgery to tighten a screw in his foot
29 Apr 2006: Returns against Birmingham but is in pain afterwards and misses last game of season
20 Jun 2006: Injures knee playing for England, misses all but last three games of following season
20 Jul 2007: Injures thigh in pre-season, misses start of season
25 Sep 2007: Sam Allardyce reveals groin tear and hernia concern

its a shame he must feel like shit