MICHAEL Owen will head off to the USA today to undergo surgery on his cruciate injury.

The Newcastle United striker, who picked up the injury while on World Cup duty with England against Sweden in June, flies to Colorado to see Dr Richard Steadman and will have the operation later this week.

Owen told Newcastle World TV: "I will be having the operation done in a couple of days, and I'm confident that with positive thinking I will be back and as good as ever.

"It's an operation that needs to be done, it's the cruciate as everyone knows, and to be honest I'm looking forward to it because it is a chink of light for me."

Owen first travelled out to America back in July when, upon first examination of his knee by Dr Steadman, it was decided the best way forward was a two-stage operation. The first stage, to repair cartilage damage, has been completely successful and now the Magpies' record signing is back across the Atlantic for the second op. 

"I have been basically biding my time since the first operation to prepare for this one, and once it is out of the way I can get on with the rehabilitation.

"At the start of the rehab it will just be about getting the knee moving and trying to keep up my general fitness, but it will get tougher as I get nearer to a comeback.

"The plan is to get as fit as I can through the rehab so I don't have to play in too many reserve games or practice games, and my obvious aim is to get back into the first team as quickly as I can."

In an exclusive interview with Newcastle World TV, Michael also looked back at an eventful 12 months on Tyneside.

He went on: "I had a good start to my Newcastle career, I got a goal in the second game at Blackburn and had a run of about seven goals in nine or 10 games after that and things were going well.

"Obviously the first injury around Christmas time was a blow, then the knee injury at the World Cup was another big setback for me.

"But I'm confident though that when I get back I can pick up the baton and get back into the swing of things."