Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce has confirmed every England fans worst fear. England striker Michael Owen needs surgery to repair his most recent injury; which will see him miss the next two Euro 2008 qualifying games against Russia and Estonia.

It had been feared that Owen needed to go under the knife for a hernia injury but he was given a clean bill of health on that front only to discover that he may have to have surgery on his latest injury; a tear on his Abductor muscle.

Allardyce believes that Owen will be out at least until the Magpies play Spurs in October. The first Premier League fixture after the Euro 2008 qualifiers that is if the player does not need surgery or that date would be dragged out even longer.