United lose Owen for rest of season

Striker Michael Owen will miss the rest of the season after sustaining a hamstring injury during Manchester United FC's League Cup fnal victory on Sunday.

Owen scored United's equalising goal in the 2-1 win against Aston Villa FC at Wembley before limping off three minutes before the break. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed on Friday that the former Liverpool FC, Real Madrid CF and Newcastle United FC forward will not feature again this term. "Unfortunately it's bad blow with Michael Owen," he said. "He's out for the season. It's more serious than we thought."

The 30-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Newcastle in the summer and has scored three goals in 19 Premier League appearances. He has also been on target four times in the UEFA Champions League, including a hat-trick in a 3-1 group-stage win at VfL Wolsfburg in December. United host AC Milan in the second leg of their first knockout round tie on Tuesday looking to preserve a 3-2 lead. The injury also seems to have dashed any lingering hopes Owen had of returning to the England squad for the FIFA World Cup.