Cup fears for injured England striker Owen

COLOGNE, June 21 (Reuters) England striker Michael Owen will have a scan on a knee injury today amid fears his World Cup could be over after less than two minutes of yesterday's final Group B game against Sweden.

Owen was taken away on a stretcher after twisting his knee, overshadowing a 2-2 draw that booked England into a second round match on Sunday against Ecuador.

Asked if Owen would be out for the rest of the tournament, England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said: ''Maybe. I hope not, but it doesn't look good at all. Exactly what it is and how long it will take (to recover) I don't know.

''He's going to have a scan tomorrow and after that we'll see...let's hope for him and for us.

''I spoke to him at halftime and he was not happy. Not happy at all.'' England midfielder Steven Gerrard added: ''He's really down.

We need to support him. It's not looking good.'' Owen was not the only England player injured yesterday, as central defender Rio Ferdinand made way for Sol Campbell in the 56th minute.

''Rio had a small problem with his groin,'' Eriksson said.

''He felt it a little bit in the first half and I told him at halftime not to risk anything. It didn't go away, so he asked to be substituted...probably he will only have massage tomorrow.'' Owen fell awkwardly and twisted his right knee as he went down, forcing Eriksson to send on Peter Crouch as a fourth minute substitute.

He was hoping to avoid using the lanky striker since he already had one yellow card and another would have ruled him out against Ecuador. However, he came through without a booking.

TRUE FORM Owen had been looking to show his true form against the Swedes, having been given less than an hour in England's two previous group wins over Paraguay and Trinidad&Tobago after a lengthy absence with a broken foot.

A serious injury for the 26-year-old, who has scored 36 goals in 79 England appearances, would be a blow to their tournament prospects.

Along with Wayne Rooney, who against the Swedes was starting his first game since breaking his foot on April 29, Owen is England's only proven goalscorer at the top level.

Eriksson had gambled by taking only four strikers to Germany, with the other being 17-year-old Theo Walcott.

The teenager has only made one substitutes' appearance for England, in last month's friendly win over Hungary, and has never played for Arsenal since joining them in January.

REUTERS PDS BST0454