Michael Owen has been ruled out of England's next two Euro 2008 qualifiers by Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce as he may need a double operation.
The 27-year-old is expected to have surgery by world-renowned German surgeon Ulrike Muschaweck on Thursday or Friday but even her famed rapid recovery rates will not be enough to allow the striker to play for England at the start of next month.
Allardyce said Newcastle are aiming to have Owen back to face Tottenham on October 22 "at the very earliest" and England manager Steve McClaren has been told the striker will miss the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia.
Owen has an abductor muscle tear and a suspected weakness in his stomach which could lead to a hernia, and both problems are likely to need keyhole surgery in Germany.
The Newcastle chief said: "He will be back for the first game after the England internationals at the very earliest.
"If he does have surgery, we will be managing two situations and one might clear up quicker than the other."
