Michael Owen is a major doubt for Newcastle United's match against Manchester City on Monday after sustaining a groin injury during training. The striker suffered the injury yesterday and underwent a scan earlier today.

The results of the scan suggest that the England striker's injury is less serious than initially feared. Interim manager Joe Kinnear was braced to lose his captain, who has scored five goals for Newcastle already this season, for up to a month with the injury but Owen will now attempt to be fit to face Sunderland on October 25.

Manchester City will be anxious to check on Robinho's fitness after the forward was substituted with an injury during Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Colombia last night. Robinho was replaced by AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato in the 63rd minute as his country were held to a goalless draw at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.