Owen x-ray reveals no damage, say Newcastle United

LONDON, Apr 30 (Reuters) England striker Michael Owen has suffered no further damage to his foot following his comeback from injury, his club Newcastle United said today.

''Michael Owen went to see the specialist first thing today morning where he had an x-ray and various tests...The news was positive and there is no damage,'' Newcastle said.

Owen, who broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in December, played the final 30 minutes of Newcastle's 0-0 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday and came off saying he was not entirely comfortable.

''The specialist told Michael it was quite normal to experience a certain level of pain in the first couple of games back playing after an injury of this kind,'' Newcastle said on their official website.

It was a piece of good news for England's World Cup hopes after the foot injury suffered by Owen's England strike partner Wayne Rooney.

Rooney fractured the base of the fourth metatarsal of his right foot in Manchester United's 3-0 defeat at Chelsea yesterday with his club saying he would be out for six weeks.

England meet Paraguay in their World Cup group opener in Frankfurt on June 10, six weeks away. Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson must name his squad by May 15.

REUTERS PG PM1710