Soccer: More metatarsal misery for England

As Sven Goran Eriksson headed into what could prove to be the biggest year of his managerial career last night, he will have paused to curse his luck and reach for his trusty medical dictionary.

After his experiences with England's 2004 European Championship campaign and their 2002 World Cup challenge, that tome would, no doubt, have fallen open at the letter "M" for metatarsal.

In breaking his fifth metatarsal bone in a challenge with Paul Robinson, the England goalkeeper, while playing for his club Newcastle United against Tottenham Hotspur, Michael Owen was continuing a modern tradition begun by David Beckham in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup finals.

It was continued by Gary Neville and Danny Murphy and climaxed by Wayne Rooney, whose bad break against Portugal in the quarter-finals of the 2004 European Championship when he limped off and took England's hopes with him.

Owen's recovery period will probably be no longer than three months - despite Graeme Souness's worst fears - and he should take heart from the fact that Beckham made it to the 2002 finals even though he was injured in April.

Owen has plenty of time to regain his fitness and restore his sharpness in front of goal before going to Germany.

Alan Murray, Newcastle's assistant manager, said that the injury "might have to be pinned which will prolong the recovery. We're hoping that it won't have to be but we will have to have a look when it settles down.

"We're looking at eight to 10 weeks if things go well, longer if they don't.

"If you lose somebody with Michael's goalscoring ability it's a blow to anybody and it's something we could well do without."

Eriksson could well do without that sort of thing, too.

Losing Owen would be a blow to England's chances - but if Rooney was injured that would be a real disaster.

The Swede's first important act of 2006 could be to order copious quantities of cotton wool to wrap up the marauding Manchester United maestro for safe-keeping.

- INDEPENDENT