Michael Owen has a 50-50 chance of playing in England's Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey after a scan confirmed his leg injury was not as bad as first feared.
Owen landed awkwardly during Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Arsenal at Anfield and was forced to hobble off the field, leaving the ground on crutches afterwards.
A scan has revealed no damage to his ankle or knee but a split in the lining between the fibula and tibia bones in his lower right leg.
That should not prevent him being called into Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad, which will be announced at 2pm on Monday.
The injury had looked much worse at the time, with Owen landing heavily before rolling in agony on the turf.
Players from both sides rushed to his aid but he was able to continue briefly after treatment before being substituted.
The initial diagnosis was that no bones were broken but Eriksson and Reds manager Gerard Houllier will have breathed a sigh of relief with news of the scan results.
Houllier's only other fit first-team striker is Emile Heskey after Milan Baros' broken ankle and Neil Mellor's loan to West Ham.
Eriksson already relies heavily on Owen up front and any absence would force the Swede's hand, with Wayne Rooney the most likely replacement for a game England need to avoid defeat in if they are to qualify automatically for Euro 2004.
Owen will receive treatment from Liverpool's medical staff with a view to joining up with the England squad on Tuesday.
Owen landed awkwardly during Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Arsenal at Anfield and was forced to hobble off the field, leaving the ground on crutches afterwards.
A scan has revealed no damage to his ankle or knee but a split in the lining between the fibula and tibia bones in his lower right leg.
That should not prevent him being called into Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad, which will be announced at 2pm on Monday.
The injury had looked much worse at the time, with Owen landing heavily before rolling in agony on the turf.
Players from both sides rushed to his aid but he was able to continue briefly after treatment before being substituted.
The initial diagnosis was that no bones were broken but Eriksson and Reds manager Gerard Houllier will have breathed a sigh of relief with news of the scan results.
Houllier's only other fit first-team striker is Emile Heskey after Milan Baros' broken ankle and Neil Mellor's loan to West Ham.
Eriksson already relies heavily on Owen up front and any absence would force the Swede's hand, with Wayne Rooney the most likely replacement for a game England need to avoid defeat in if they are to qualify automatically for Euro 2004.
Owen will receive treatment from Liverpool's medical staff with a view to joining up with the England squad on Tuesday.
