Newcastle's Owen Faces Month Out With Groin Injury

Michael Owen is a major doubt for Newcastle United's match against Manchester City on Monday after sustaining a groin injury during training. The striker suffered the injury yesterday and will undergo a scan later today.

Interim manager Joe Kinnear fears his captain, who has scored five goals for Newcastle already this season, could be sidelined for up to a month with the injury. "He tweaked his groin in training so he is a big doubt," Kinnear said. "It's 50-50 whether he plays for the Man City match. He is having a scan today. Then we will find out more, we are just assessing the situation.

"I am hoping it is not as bad as it looked when he first did it. I am hoping it may have calmed down but we are worried that if the scan shows a tear then he could be out for a month. Hopefully it won't be but we are in the dark until later on today."

Manchester City will be anxious to check on Robinho's fitness after the forward was substituted with an injury during Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Colombia last night. Robinho was replaced by AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato in the 63rd minute as his country were held to a goalless draw at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.