Owen to undergo scan

Michael Owen is set to undergo a second scan on his problematic groin after having limped off the pitch during Newcastle's 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday.

The England striker asked to be replaced just six minutes into the second half of the clash at St James' Park, and now requires another scan on Monday to reveal the extent of the damage.

The news comes at a bad time for England boss Steve McClaren with next month's crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia fast approaching.

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce said: "We will know better on Monday. It is still a groin problem which we will have to look into a little deeper because it has become persistent.

"We will make a decision from there. We will probably scan it again, have another specialist opinion and then see where we go from there. But he is definitely out for Tuesday.

"I am worried that he asked to come off today because he felt it, whereas it was me who took him off against Derby, so since then, even though the scan was clear, there's a persistent area which is causing him a problem.

"We need to look deeper into that."

Owen ends long wait for Newcastle goal

England striker Michael Owen scored his first Newcastle United goal for more than 18 months as Sam Allardyce enjoyed a winning start to his new reign as manager of the English Premiership side on Tuesday.

Owen was on target in the 58th minute of the 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Hartlepool United for his first club goal since hitting a hat-trick against West Ham United in December 2005. Shola Ameobi scored Newcastle's other goals.

Owen, 27, has been dogged by injury since his move from Real Madrid two years ago. He has played just 14 league and cup games and scored seven goals for the Magpies since arriving on Tyneside, and the knee injury he suffered while on international duty at Germany 2006 meant he played in just the last three games of the 2006/07 league campaign. (AFP)