Newcastle United striker Michael Owen is facing two operations to end his injury hell.
Owen flew to Germany last night and Toon boss Sam Allardyce insists the operations - to be carried out by specialist Dr Ulrike Muschaweck over successive days at the end of this week - are designed to prevent his star getting a hernia problem rather than to cure one.
Allardyce said: "Michael has seen a specialist in Manchester who has advised him to get the stomach lining strengthened while he is having a tear in his adductor muscle repaired.
"The idea is to prevent him getting a hernia. The last thing we want is him to come back in three weeks' time and for the weakness to turn into a hernia problem.
"We're hopeful he won't be out for too long because it is a relatively straightforward procedure."