Owen injury scare, new role for Gerrard - reports

LONDON, May 30: England striker Michael Owen suffered an injury scare and was taken to hospital for a scan on his thigh yesterday, British media reported today.

Owen pulled out of training at Old Trafford but was later given the all-clear to line up against Hungary in today's pre-World Cup friendly, reports said.

The scare came just hours after news that the next scan on the broken foot of Wayne Rooney, Owen's fellow striker, had been brought forward a week to June 7.

Media speculated that if Rooney was ruled out of the World Cup, defender Jamie Carragher would be called into the starting lineup as a midfield anchor with Liverpool team mate and midfielder Steven Gerrard pushed into attack behind Owen.

Such a system, which may be tried out against Hungary, would edge out a third Liverpool player, lanky striker Peter Crouch.

Reuters