Owen set for long lay-off after toe injury

England striker Michael Owen could be out of action for up to 12 weeks after breaking a toe in Newcastle United's 2-0 Premiership defeat away to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

England striker Michael Owen could be out of action for up to 12 weeks after breaking a toe in Newcastle United's 2-0 Premiership defeat away to Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Owen, widely seen as vital to England's hopes of winning next year's World Cup in Germany, failed to appear for the second half after a collision with international team-mate and Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

It was later confirmed that the 26-year-old forward had fractured his fifth metatarsal bone, a similar injury to those sustained by England colleagues David Beckham and Gary Neville in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

"It's a mighty blow. It's an absolute disaster for him and an absolute disaster for the club," Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said after Saturday's match. "It's a dark day for us."

Owen has struggled with injuries in the past, suffering hamstring trouble at various points in his Liverpool career after first pulling up in a game at Leeds in April 1999.

He returned to English football at the start of this season in a 17 million-pound move from Spanish giants Real Madrid and he has since scored seven goals in nine starts for the Magpies, including a hat-trick against West Ham on December 17.

To make matters worse for Newcastle, goalkeeper Shay Given was thought to have broken his thumb.