Michael Owen's surgeon insists the Newcastle striker is not running any risk playing for England this weekend.

Little more than a week after undergoing stomach surgery in Munich at the clinic of top specialist Dr Ulrike Muschaweck, Owen returned to the Magpies' side, scoring the third in Sunday's 3-2 win over Everton.

Having seen one of their most prized assets succumb to injury on international duty before, Newcastle will be keen to ensure Owen is fully fit and avoids any further setbacks.

But Dr Muschaweck, who developed what is known as the 'Minimal Repair Technique' especially for athletes, insists the risk of the injury re-occurring is minuscule.

She said: "The main difference to other operation techniques for the groin area is that only the defect of the posterior wall of the groin canal is opened and no sound tissue is destroyed.

"A special type of suturing is necessary, which keeps the elasticity of the abdominal wall. Therefore the training and full activity can start very early without any risk.

"The only thing stopping a quick return can be some pain which will keep the player off the field for some further days. The risk of the injury re-occurring is 0.1 per cent."