マイケル・オーウェン右足甲を骨折、Ｗ杯はどうなる！

ニューカッスル・ユナイテッド所属のマイケル・オーウェン（Michael Owen）が、12月31日のプレミアリーグ、トットナム戦で右足甲を骨折、２、３カ月間休養することになった。

オーウェンはトットナム戦で前半終了間際に相手GKと衝突し、右足甲を痛めた。「残念だが、仕方ない。救いはW杯まで十分時間があることだ」と話した。イングランド代表のエリクソン監督は協会（FA）を通じ、「できる限り早い復帰を望む。今後をしっかりと見守っていきたい」とコメントし、エースFWの回復を期待した。

重傷のオーウェン「Ｗ杯には出場する」 [スポーツナビ]

「ワールドカップ開幕までには十分に時間がある」とオーウェンはコメントし、何が何でも本大会には出場したいという明確な意思を見せた。「急ぐ必要はない。２カ月半か、たぶん３カ月かかるだろう。同じけがをした選手は多いけど、後遺症は残っていない」

England star Owen breaks his foot 　[BBC SPORT]

Newcastle assistant manager Alan Murray added: "(The injury) might have to be pinned which will prolong the recovery. We're hoping that it won't have to be but we will have to have a look when it settles down.

"We're looking at eight to 10 weeks if things go well, longer if they don't.

"We've been riding along between 14th and 10th for most of the season and if you lose somebody with Michael's goalscoring ability it's a blow to anybody and something we could well do without."

Owen plays down World Cup concern [BBC SPORT]

Owen is poised to be sidelined for two to three months and he said: "It is very disappointing.

"But I have no doubts I will be fit for the World Cup - from what the experts are telling me."

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has said that he will be monitoring Owen's fitness battle.

Owen to undergo operation on foot [BBC SPORT]

Owen added that he was not only hopeful of making Germany 2006 but also optimistic of his chances of playing for Newcastle again this campaign.

"I don't need any miracles to be playing again this season and, fingers crossed, I will see at least a month of the Barclays Premiership season as well as the World Cup."

Souness starts the year living dangerously [Guardian]

Owen's injury is a high-profile affair because of his England status, but Newcastle fans will be equally disturbed that Shay Given has damaged a thumb, which may keep him out of today's match, and that Scott Parker appears to have aggravated an existing knee complaint and is a significant doubt.

Add a knock to the young right-back Peter Ramage - with Stephen Carr still out - and Souness's long-standing argument about Newcastle's injuries looks justified. But on Tyneside it is a remark which is wearing thin through repetition and, besides, there are deeper issues of concern to the hierarchy at the club and the 52,000 who regularly turn up.

[Newcastle United FC]