Owen out for the season

Striker's slender World Cup hopes dashed

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 5th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Owen out for the season

Owen: Out for the season

I think the heavy pitch at Wembley on Sunday made some contribution to it but really it is just bad luck.

Sir Alex Ferguson.
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Michael Owen has been ruled out for the rest of the season, ending any slender hopes he had of making England's World Cup squad.

The Manchester United striker suffered a hamstring injury during Sunday's Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa.

Owen was surprisingly handed a starting role ahead of in-form Wayne Rooney at Wembley and vindicated Sir Alex Ferguson's decision by scoring a well-taken equaliser.

But the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle forward pulled up during the first half on the heavy pitch and limped out of the action to be replaced by Rooney, with the substitute heading the winner in the second half.

Scans have now revealed that the hamstring problem sustained by the 30-year-old will keep him out of action for the remainder of the campaign and he will undergo an operation on Monday.

Owen was always a long-shot to secure a place in England manager Fabio Capello's squad having been regularly overlooked since the Italian took charge.

But his return of 40 goals from 89 international appearances ensured that the debate over his inclusion for the tournament in South Africa would not go away.

Capello's policy of selecting players who were in action regularly and in form counted against Owen, who has struggled for regular starts at Old Trafford since his arrival on a free transfer in the summer.

Terrible blow

And this latest setback means that the striker, who was an integral part of England's forward line in the past three World Cup finals, will not be involved in a fourth.

"It's a bad blow - he's out for the season," Ferguson said. "Unfortunately it's more serious than we thought. He will be operated on on Monday morning.

"It's a terrible blow for the lad and is disappointing news for us too.

"He has never missed a training session all season.

"I think the heavy pitch at Wembley on Sunday made some contribution to it but really it is just bad luck."

Owen has made 31 appearances for the Red Devils this season, scoring nine goals from 11 starts, with 20 of his outings coming from the bench.

Determined

Ferguson must now plan without the experienced frontman as he targets further glory in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

Although Owen did not mention the World Cup, he is now looking forward to the start of next season.

"Unfortunately the specialist says I will miss the end of the season," said Owen.

"I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments.

"I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition."

Owen to retire from professional football before start 2010/11 PL season 8/1

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Comments (40)

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Alan Middleton (Liverpool fan) says...

@Gary Sharrock Im sure Newcastle would have kept him if they could afford to but Owen didnt want to play in the championship so he went to them... for unknown reasons

Posted 14:56 5th March 2010

Mark Clyne says...

I hate saying I told ya so. But when I heard Utd were going to sign Owen I was totally against. Only a small part of that was his past with Liverpool but I said and I qoute "He will not get more than ten goals, he will be even lucky to start ten games". Get it right in the next window Fergie, bar 3 games, winner against City, hatrick in Europe and and equalising in the final he has been useless.

Posted 14:53 5th March 2010

Jay Achard says...

owen injured again.??????reminds me of theo at arsenal. no chance owen was gonna get in the england squad. wayyyyy over rated if u ask me. was good player in the past but there much better players than this washed out has been. unreliable. time he hung up his boots me thinks.

Posted 14:49 5th March 2010

Phil Stringfellow (Manchester United fan) says...

To all the liverpool fans slating Owen for being injured a lot.. Id like to see how many times torres has played in his 3 years in england.

Posted 14:46 5th March 2010

Andrew Davies (Chelsea fan) says...

Chris McCarron - yes of course - I'm that fickle! Can you honestly say he deserves his place in a Engalnd squad of 4/5 strikers instead of; Crouch / Defoe / Bent / Heskey / Carlton Cole - on the basis that he used to score goals for England?? If that's the case I think Shearer, Lineker, hell even Jimmy Greaves are in with a shout!! I can see the Newspaper stories now 'Jimmy Greaves, retired England International, has played down rumours he is to receive an England callup. 'I can barely get up to make a cup of tea now, but if Capello was to give me a call I'd have to consider it' Many people have questioned this callup, but accept that if he used to score goals at International level in a bye-gone era - he must be in with a shot of making it to South Africa" ....please...!

Posted 14:33 5th March 2010

Matthew Holmes (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Owen injured again not good news for Man Utd or England, But Man Utd or England won't miss him, At Man Utd they got on fire Rooney, and for England Rooney and Crouch, Hope you get back playing football soon owen you b missed.

Posted 14:21 5th March 2010

Gary Sharrock (Manchester United fan) says...

really sorry for owen here. he has been brilliant this season,. winning goal against city, hat trick against wolfsburg and the equaliser against villa. he helped win us the carling cup and get some decent wins notched up. hopefully he will return stronger next season. i always play owen on fifa and pes and he kicks ass, scores in most his games to all the newcastle fans, your just jealous that he got back into good form. he came to united on a free transfer. obviously newcastle didnt want to keep him so you cant really complain.

Posted 13:53 5th March 2010

Duncan Thorpe (Manchester United fan) says...

its a bad blow for him, i hope he can come back soon! owen's goal against city will give me great pleasure for the rest of my life! cheers michael!

Posted 13:52 5th March 2010

Casual Observer (Liverpool fan) says...

The certainties of life ring true.... Death, taxes, and Mikey Owen on the injured list.

Posted 13:51 5th March 2010

Warren Downey (Liverpool fan) says...

What a shame. Just in time for the Cheltenham Festival. I bet all the Geordies are feeling very sorry for him. At least this will stop the ridiculous commentators resurrecting his chances of going to South Africa, every time he gets a shot on target. (Way) overrated and disloyal.

Posted 13:50 5th March 2010

Chris Mccarron (Manchester United fan) says...

Andrew Davies..if he was a chelsea, he'd already be in south africa wouldn't he ??!! have to agree with Paul Smith on this one look what happened to Ole.. but stil a awesome player none the less !

Posted 13:47 5th March 2010

Mike Razavi (Arsenal fan) says...

I have always liked Michael Owen since he was a young player. I think that after he left Liverpool, he started on a string of bad luck, and he never fully recovered from that. But I wish him the best.

Posted 13:44 5th March 2010

Phil Helen (Aston Villa fan) says...

Owen in an outstanding footballer and a class act to boot!!! He started very early in top class football and now his body is paying the price. How you Limeys can put down a player who has contributed so much for his Country, is beyond me. The English tabloid press has much to answer for, Good luck M.O. !!!

Posted 13:39 5th March 2010

Adam G (Newcastle United fan) says...

Well I must say this is a total shock, it has come right out of the blue. MO injured?! Surely not. Seriously, he's finished. Fergie will give him the spanish archer in the summer.

Posted 13:14 5th March 2010

Matt Curtis (Aston Villa fan) says...

So when Capello bangs on about only playing those who play regularly, why does he pick Walcott who's played over 100mins less (in the Prem) than Owen. Be consistant Capello!! I think its a good idea to only play those playing regularly, but most importantly those in form.

Posted 13:07 5th March 2010

Paul Smith (Manchester United fan) says...

Owen is a great player since he was 18 but in the recent years, time have been very cruel to him. i can't help but feel his a little burned out a ;ittle too young. A good player had to be very well taken care of throughout his whole career to avoid fustrating situations like this

Posted 13:06 5th March 2010

Alihusein Namajee (Manchester United fan) says...

Thats very sad Mike I feel very sorry for you you have been one of my favourite strikers even when you were a Liverpool player but your style and eagerness for goals will always be remembered. Some memorable goals you scored both for club and country and I hope you recover and we hope to see you back next season. Best Wishes

Posted 13:00 5th March 2010

Andrew Davies (Chelsea fan) says...

Now will people PLEASE stop talking about Owen going to the World Cup??? It wasn't a possibility in the first place!!!!

Posted 12:59 5th March 2010

Wayne Bradley (Manchester United fan) says...

Good luck to him I hope he has a speedy recovery. I think he has done well for us considering the limited opportunities he has had. How many of his goals were key in winning a game? Man City, Wolfsburg and the cup final goal was massive in getting us back in the game to name a few. England should still take him to the world cup; he'd still score more goals than Emile Heskey or Carlton Cole when injured.

Posted 12:57 5th March 2010

Jimmy White (Rangers fan) says...

It's a joke how much times he get injured. I mean a bad patch? Really? He is a professional he should be ready to play any place. Especially as he is the backup in the squad. It's the same with Aurelio for Liverpool. Turns out he can play some good football but now is always injured which is unreliable. I don't think it is luck for some players. I think they are just not built for the sport.

Posted 12:49 5th March 2010
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