Newcastle United Football Club News

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• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

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Owen ready for surgery

04 Sep 2006 - 12:35:45

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Newcastle United ace Michael Owen is gearing up for a second operation on his damaged right knee and is still hopeful of making a full recovery over the next few months.

The 26-year-old has already undergone surgery in the USA to repair a cartilage and now needs to go under the knife for a second time to repair ligament damage.

He told his club's official website: "I will be having the operation done in a couple of days and I'm confident that I will be back and as good as ever.

"It's an operation that needs to be done, it's the cruciate as everyone knows, and to be honest, I'm looking forward to it because it is a chink of light for me.

"I have been basically biding my time since the first operation to prepare for this one and once it is out of the way, I can get on with the rehabilitation.

"At the start of the rehab, it will just be about getting the knee moving and trying to keep up my general fitness, but it will get tougher as I get nearer to a comeback.

"The plan is to get as fit as I can through the rehab so I don't have to play in too many reserve games or practice games"

Owen was injured in the opening minutes of England's World Cup clash with Sweden in the summer.