Newcastle striker Michael Owen has been sent to Germany in a bid to speed up his recovery from a thigh injury. Owen suffered the problem in the first half of England's 1-0 friendly victory over Austria on Friday evening.
It is the latest in a series of injuries for Owen and Sam Allardyce and his medical team at St James' Park have now taken the decision for him to consult top specialist Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt.
Rumours suggest that Dr Wohlfahrt's input could help Owen return to action within a fortnight, but Allardyce is sticking to the initial estimate of four to six weeks.
"We have sent Michael to Germany to see Dr Wohlfahrt in a bid to speed up
his recovery from his thigh injury," Allardyce told the Evening Chronicle.
"But at this moment in time, we do not see the point in changing our view that we will be without Michael for between four and six weeks.
"If we start talking about him coming back earlier there will be disappointment if he does not.
"However if we can get him back quicker after Dr Wohlfahrt's treatment, then it will be a huge bonus for us."