Owen out

England striker Michael Owen has been ruled out for the rest of the World Cup finals with a knee injury, the FA said yesterday.

"It has now been confirmed that the injury will prevent Michael playing any further part in the World Cup and he will return to England immediately," the FA said.

Owen's club, Newcastle, said the striker had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee when he fell awkwardly less than two minutes into England's Group B 2-2 draw with Sweden in Cologne on Tuesday.

He flew back to England yesterday after undergoing a scan on the injury.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd said: "At this stage, it's too early to say how long he will be out for, although it is a serious injury.

"He'll come home and back into our care and will be assessed by our medical staff at some point in the next couple of days following his return."

The disappointed 26-year-old striker told the FA website: "Obviously, it's a massive blow to suffer the injury - and be out of the World Cup.

"As soon as it happened I knew I was in trouble. It was a major disappointment to pick up the injury," added Owen, who has scored 36 goals in 80 England games.