Any operation a precaution, says Sam

[Scottish Mag 3]

MICHAEL Owen could face surgery on his latest injury but Sam Allardyce insists it will be to strengthen his groin, not repair an injured hernia. And the Newcastle United manager has warned fans not to expect their record signing to rush his return to fitness.

 

Ever since the Magpies striker was substituted in the second half of the 1-0 defeat to Derby County a week-and-a-half ago with a “tight groin”, Allardyce has been denying suggestions the 27-year-old needed a hernia operation. He was forced to do so again yesterday after it was confirmed Owen (pictured right) will miss England’s next two Euro 2008 qualifiers, against Estonia and Russia, having being diagnosed with a 3cm tear in his abductor muscle.

 

“The Owen situation is the same it’s always been – he ain’t got a hernia,” Allardyce said. “He’s got an abductor strain and he goes to see a specialist regarding it. But he hasn’t got a hernia at the moment.”

 

Owen is expected to see world-renowned surgeon Ulrike Muschaweck today or tomorrow and the German may recommend keyhole surgery.

 

But Allardyce was at pains to stress it will be a preventative measure to stop a suspected weakness in Owen’s stomach developing into a hernia.

 

“If she sees him and does operate it will only be to strengthen that area, not to repair it,” he said.

 

Owen’s absence will be a blow to Steve McClaren, who has now lost both halves of the strike partnership which served him so well against Israel and Russia after Emile Heskey broke his metatarsal playing for Wigan Athletic. But having had only 17 starts in return for their £16m investment two years ago, Newcastle are understandably more concerned about the timing of his return to club football.

 

Allardyce has suggested Owen could be back to face Tottenham Hotspur on October 22 “at the very, very earliest” but Owen does not have a track record of returning to fitness ahead of schedule.

 

Nevertheless, there have been suggestions in some quarters that Owen returned from a broken metatarsal too soon last year, contributing to the serious knee injury he picked up at the 2006 World Cup. Allardyce is determined to take a cautious approach this time. “He’s more sensible than that and knows the consequences of coming back too early are so grave if you get re-injured,” said the former Bolton Wanderers manager. “You can extend the period of recovery so it’s twice as long.

 

“If our medical staff don’t consider he is capable at that particular time via a specialist report and scan we will be patient and make sure he – and any player – is fully recovered before we stick him back into the fray. The old days of my time when someone simply stuck an injection into you are long gone.”

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

Nevertheless, there have been suggestions in some quarters that Owen returned from a broken metatarsal too soon last year, contributing to the serious knee injury he picked up at the 2006 World Cup. Allardyce is determined to take a cautious approach this time. “He’s more sensible than that and knows the consequences of coming back too early are so grave if you get re-injured,” said the former Bolton Wanderers manager. “You can extend the period of recovery so it’s twice as long.

I can't see any connection between his foot injury and the knee injury tbh.

*awaits some clever bastard to say 'his shin'*

[RlCO 0]

The old days of my time when someone simply stuck an injection into you are long gone.”

 

Gerrard?

[Fop 1]

Nevertheless, there have been suggestions in some quarters that Owen returned from a broken metatarsal too soon last year, contributing to the serious knee injury he picked up at the 2006 World Cup. Allardyce is determined to take a cautious approach this time. “He’s more sensible than that and knows the consequences of coming back too early are so grave if you get re-injured,” said the former Bolton Wanderers manager. “You can extend the period of recovery so it’s twice as long.

I can't see any connection between his foot injury and the knee injury tbh.

*awaits some clever bastard to say 'his shin'*

 

I can't see that there would be other than maybe just a general bit of being unconditioned to might have contributed in some way.

 

But the way his knee went, I don't think anything is like to stop that sort of thing happening. Having said that I can maybe see how after being out for so long it could maybe be contributing to his current ones, but at the end of the day players have to start playing again eventually.

[Guest alex]

If he hadn't have came back too early, he wouldn't have played and if he hadn't played he wouldn't have got injured. There's the link chaps

[Dr Kenneth Noisewater 0]

If he hadn't have came back too early, he wouldn't have played and if he hadn't played he wouldn't have got injured. There's the link chaps

January to May? He was hardly rushing was he?

[Guest alex]

If he hadn't have came back too early, he wouldn't have played and if he hadn't played he wouldn't have got injured. There's the link chaps

January to May? He was hardly rushing was he?

The wink's a hint that I was oversimplifying it. He was nowhere near fully fit at the World Cup though.