Newcastle are to receive 100,000 pounds (206,000 dollars) per week
in compensation for as long as Michael Owen is sidelined by the
injury he sustained on England duty last week.
The striker is expected to be out of action for up to a month after
suffering a thigh strain in the first half of England's 1-0
friendly win over Austria in Vienna on Friday.
The English Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that
Newcastle would be eligible for a payout under the terms of their
insurance, which covers clubs for players' wages up to a maximum of
100,000 pounds per week.
Meanwhile Newcastle have sent Owen to Germany for treatment by
high-profile specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt.
Magpies manager Sam Allardyce told Tuesday's Newcastle Evening
Chronicle: "We have sent Michael to Germany to see Dr Wohlfahrt in
a bid to speed up his recovery from his thigh injury.
"But at this moment in time, we do no 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."
Injuries have restricted Owen to just 25 games for Newcastle in
nearly 28 months, with the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker
scoring 10 goals for the north-east club.
Owen, 27, was operated on by another German doctor, Ulrike
Muschaweck, who carried out a double hernia operation on the
forward.
Muschaweck had the striker back in action within eight days as he
scored on his return in a 3-2 Premier League victory over Everton,
and he was able to play in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia
and Russia last month.
The Magpies eventually received £6m from the FA, world football
governing body Fifa and their insurer