Owen suffers knee setback
Owen suffers knee set-back
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Monday, 17, Jul 2006 09:40
Newcastle United striker Michael Owen has suffered a setback in his recovery from his knee injury after he is told he will need another operation.
The England international, who suffered cruciate ligament damage in the final group game of the World Cup against Sweden, flew to America for treatment from knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman.
However, Owen was told after he was operated on that the swelling was too great to repair the damaged ligament and only the cartilage problem was attended to.
Now he faces another trip to Colorado in September to finish the job and repair the ligament.
"I was under anaesthetic when they decided that Dr Steadman was going in with all the tools to do the cruciate but then they opened it up they saw something else and had to decide right there what was best," Owen told the Sun.
"I’m just hoping the next one can be successful so I have to make sure the knee is in a fit state and the swelling is down."
Owen has had a terrible run of injuries in 2006, having missed all but 30 minutes of the domestic season this calendar year because of a broken metatarsal, and it is now very unlikely he will play before 2007.
The 26-year-old is hopeful, however, that the problem can be fixed in September and he can then start focussing on a return to action.
"The plan is to go back out there in six or seven weeks and, hopefully, that will be the last I see of America," Owen added.
"Maybe then there will be light at the end of the tunnel and I can head for a comeback."
Owen has made just 11 appearances for Newcastle since arriving from Real Madrid last summer for £16 million.