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Owen injury to trouble England

England striker Michael Owen will enter 2006 on the sidelines after being ruled out for several months with a foot injury suffered in action on Saturday.

First-half injury
The 26-year-old forward has struggled with injuries since joining the Premiership club from Real Madrid CF in the summer. However, he had looked to be back to his best in recent weeks, firing a hat-trick a fortnight ago against West Ham United FC only to be hurt in the first half of today's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur FC.

'Absolute disaster'
Newcastle manager Graeme Souness revealed Owen could be missing for three months after breaking his fifth metatarsal - the bone in the foot that connects to the little toe - adding that goalkeeper Shay Given had a suspected broken thumb. "This is a mighty blow," Souness said. "It is an absolute disaster for Michael Owen and an absolute disaster for the club."

England woe
Owen's injury is the same as suffered by England colleagues Gary Neville, in April 2002, Steven Gerrard, in September 2004, and Wayne Rooney at UEFA EURO 2004™. National-team captain David Beckham broke his second metatarsal just before the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and only just made it to the finals.

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