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Michael Owen ruled out for the rest of the season

Michael Owen was battling to force his way into Fabio Capello's plans © Getty Images

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Michael Owen's slim World Cup hopes are over after it was confirmed on Friday that he has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Owen scored the biggest goal of his Manchester United career in his last outing at Wembley, during the 2-1 Carling Cup triumph against Aston Villa on Sunday. However, he had to be withdrawn midway through that match with a hamstring injury, and scans have confirmed the 30-year-old will not return this season.

Speaking on United's official website, Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed: "Unfortunately it's a bad blow with Michael Owen. He's out for the season. It's more serious than we thought.

"He gets operated on on Monday morning. It's a terrible blow for the lad and disappointing for us too. He's never missed a training session all season. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley played some part, but it's also bad luck."

With Owen out, United are left with young duo Mame Biram Diouf and Federico Macheda as back-up strikers, but if either Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov were to get injured, it would leave Ferguson with a lack of experience in reserve.

Owen, who has scored 40 goals in 89 England appearances, had hoped he could still force his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad in the remaining three months of the season. Speaking on Tuesday, Capello had offered the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man hope by stating that the door was not closed to Owen, Wayne Bridge or Joe Cole.

However, the man who exploded onto the international scene with a wonder goal as a teenager in the 1998 World Cup, now must come to terms with the fact that he has likely played on football's greatest stage for the last time.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.