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Michael Owen may need a double hernia operation, potentially ruling him out of England's two Euro 2008 qualifiers in October, BBC Sport understands.
Owen, 27, limped out of Newcastle's match on Sunday and surgery would rule him out for up to two months.
BBC Radio 5live football correspondent Jonathan Legard said: "Owen had hoped to play through the pain barrier but the problem has deteriorated rapidly.
"His preferred option, to defer surgery until Christmas, is not realistic."
The striker was also substituted during the Magpies previous game, a 1-0 defeat at Derby on Monday 17 September.
And after Sunday's defeat of West Ham, Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce said: "I am worried that he asked to come off against West Ham because he felt it, whereas it was me who took him off against Derby."
Owen had a scan after the game against Derby - after which Allardyce claimed the striker did not need an ankle operation.
However, after Sunday's game Allardyce added: "Even though the initial scan was clear, there's a persistent area which is causing him a problem.
"We need to look deeper into that."
"We will scan it again, get a specialist opinion and see where we go from there."
Owen came off in the second half against the Hammers.
He has scored five times for club and country this season after missing the majority of the 2006-07 campaign because of a cruciate ligament injury suffered at the 2006 World Cup finals.
Owen netted three times for England in this month's Euro 2008 qualifying victories over Israel and Russia.
England boss Steve McClaren is already without Emile Heskey, who partnered Owen up front for both those wins, after the Wigan striker suffered a broken metatarsal on 15 September.
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Source: BBC Sport |
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