Newcastle United striker Michael Owen could be available for this weekend's clash with Everton.

Owen had two procedures at Dr Ulrike Muschaweck's renowned Munich Hernia Centre, repairing a torn abductor muscle and treating a sportsman's hernia. While Muschaweck's "Minimal Repair Technique" allows patients to walk and use weights immediately afterwards and train within two days, Owen had feared that his condition was more serious.

Sam Allardyce, the Newcastle manager, has not ruled out the prospect of fielding the striker in Newcastle's home match against Everton at the weekend.

"If he proves his fitness for the Everton game then he is fit enough to play," the manager said. "We'll see how he develops when he gets back from Germany and see if he is fit enough to play.

"We are not saying he is fit for England yet because we are not saying he is fit for the Everton game yet. He might be. The biggest thing for Michael is that the strengthening work has been done and that should stand him in good stead, so we will have to wait for the abductor to heal and we don't know how long that will take."