News: Liverpool were last night bracing themselves to be without Michael Owen for tomorrow's important trip to Manchester United as the England striker continues to labour from the back injury picked up during the victory over Turkey on Wednesday night.

Owen lasted only 58 minutes at the Stadium of Light before succumbing to a knock suffered during the first half, eventually making way for Darius Vassell, scorer of England's first goal. The 23-year-old returned to Merseyside yesterday for a light training session with the club's other returning internationals but was still hampered by the problem.

"We'll have to see whether I'm fit to play on Saturday," said Owen, whose goals have been pivotal in Liverpool's late attempts to gatecrash the top four and conjure Champions League qualification from a disappointing season. They are currently two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Owen's presence is all the more important because of Emile Heskey's unconvincing form and now doubts about his confidence after being relegated by England.

"It normally takes a couple of days to recover from a dead leg," Owen added, "but this is a dead back and I've never really suffered from something like this before.

"I got a knee in my back in the first five minutes of the game and it stiffened up.

"With hindsight I probably should have come off at half-time but it got better as I played, so I carried on. But then I fell on my back at the beginning of the second half and just couldn't continue."

Owen, who boasts six goals from his last eight club appearances, had intensive treatment at Melwood from the club's physio Dave Galley and faces a test tomorrow morning before the 12.30 p.m. kick-off.

If Owen is unfit, the Czech striker Milan Baros - outstanding in his country's 4-0 rout of Austria on Wednesday - will step in at Old Trafford.

Guardian Service