Manchester United (9/2 to win the Premier League) striker Michael Owen is set to spend yet more time on the sidelines after picking up another hamstring injury in training.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward was due to play for United in their Carling Cup clash against Wolves at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
However Owen was withdrawn from the match not long before kick-off as the defending champions beat Wolves 3-2.
The 30-year-old was disappointed to pick up yet another injury after struggling with muscle problems throughout his career.
He said: “I’ve trained for a week and had a setback with another muscle injury.
“I’ve got some damage in my hamstring and will be out for the next few weeks unfortunately,” he added.
Owen has only started one Premier League match for United this season after he took the field at the Stadium Light for the Red Devil’s 0-0 draw with Sunderland.
However the former England striker has looked good when he has had an opportunity by Sir Alex Ferguson scoring two goals in the Carling Cup and a goal at the Reebok Stadium after coming on as a substitute against Bolton in the Premier League.
Ferguson has been hoping that Owen and fellow front man Wayne Rooney could rekindle their partnership when the pair played together for the Three Lions.
However it has been rare that the two players have been in the same United (11/2 to win the FA Cup) line-up and currently both players are on the sidelines.
Revelations about Rooney’s private life and more recently contract issues have meant it has been a difficult time for the former Everton player but Owen believes hype surrounding the player has not affected his team-mates at Old Trafford.
He said: “I don’t think (there was) any (affect), really.
“Everyone seems to be happy now. The club have got a world-class player signed for five years and obviously Wayne’s happy and the manager’s happy.
“Wayne is obviously ambitious and the club’s ambitious. He wouldn’t have signed if he had any doubts,” he added.
United will be hoping that Rooney will return to the form that saw him ranked as one of the best players in the world after scoring 34 goals in 44 appearances for the Old Trafford side last season.
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