Michael Owen will have to wait another two months before his ruptured knee ligament can be repaired.

The Newcastle striker could now be out of action for eight months after the renowned American specialist, Dr Richard Steadman, found slight lateral cartilage damage in the same knee.

Newcastle announced yesterday that the first phase of surgery to deal with the cartilage problem was successfully carried out at Steadman's Colorado clinic where Owen will begin his rehabilitation before returning to the North-East next week. He will return to America in late August or early September for an

operation on the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that was damaged in England's World Cup group game against Sweden on June 20.

Owen's setback could also prove costly to the Football Association as Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has instructed the club's lawyers to examine the issue of compensation. Shepherd acted after learning the FA's insurance policy will cover only a proportion of Owen's £103,000-a-week wages.

Before Owen suffered the injury in Cologne, Newcastle were already seeking a new striker to fill the void left by Alan Shearer's retirement and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy remains top of manager Glenn Roeder's wanted list. Charlton's Darren Bent and Tottenham's Jermain Defoe are also possible targets.

Owen's England teammates are unlikely to face Greece in their scheduled friendly match on Aug 16 because the Hellenic Football Federation are suspended from international competition. The Greek government yesterday proposed a second change in as many days to its sports laws in an attempt to persuade Fifa that the state does not interfere excessively in football affairs.