Surgery ends Owen's World Cup dream

MANCHESTER, England, March 5, 2010 (AFP) - Michael Owen will be out injured until the end of the season after learning he needs surgery to repair the hamstring injury that forced him out of last weekend's League Cup final.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (L) shakes hands with Michael Owen after substituting him against Aston Villa during the 2010 Carling Cup final at Wembley on February 28, 2010. AFP PHOTO
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (L) shakes hands with Michael Owen after substituting him against Aston Villa during the 2010 Carling Cup final at Wembley on February 28, 2010. AFP PHOTO

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Friday that the striker's injury had been much more serious than initially thought, definitively ending any lingering hope Owen had of making England's squad for the World Cup in June and July.

Owen limped out of Sunday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa at Wembley just before half-time and will have an operation on Monday.

"It is a terrible blow for the lad," Ferguson said. "It is more serious than we thought."

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