A scan on Michael Owen's hamstring injury this morning confirmed the Liverpool striker has sustained a slight tear in the muscle in his left leg and could miss up to six crucial games for his club as he will be out for three weeks at the very least. He will also miss out on England's vital final World Cup qualifier against Greece at Old Trafford on October 6.
This is not the diagnosis manager Gerard Houllier was hoping for. The Frenchman said yesterday that he was hoping the injury would only be a pull and not a tear but his worst fears were realised today. However, there is some good news for the Liverpool boss as the tear is not anywhere near as serious as previous injuries sustained by Owen to the same muscle.
The striker will miss both Champions League games with Dynamo Kiev - at Anfield next Wednesday and away on October 16 - as well as domestic games with Leeds, Newcastle and Leicester plus the Worthington Cup tie at home to Grimsby. A provisional return date could be the Champions League tie away to Boavista on October 24, or the Premiership game at Charlton the following Saturday.
However, Houllier was quick not to set an actual date for his return to action. "The first few days are extremely important to the overall treatment of such injuries. And we will be in a better position to judge his recovery time once that has elapsed," he said.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
