ALAN Shearer has admitted that a stricken Michael Owen is unlikely to feature in Newcastle’s relegation decider at Aston Villa this weekend.

And with his current contract due to expire this summer, that means the club’s record signing might well have made his final appearance for the Magpies.

Owen missed his tenth Premier League match of the season on Saturday as the reappearance of a groin problem forced him to sit out Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham.

While he had been withdrawn from Friday’s training session as a precautionary measure, Newcastle’s medical staff had hoped Owen would be passed fit to take his place in the starting line-up against the Cottagers.

Instead, the club’s physios were forced to abandon a pre-match fitness test at an early stage after it became obvious that the striker was in no fit shape to play.

Owen will undergo a scan on his damaged groin this morning, and while he has not been ruled out of Sunday’s trip to Villa Park at this stage, Shearer concedes things are not looking good for Newcastle’s £16m man.

“Michael had a twinge in his groin,” confirmed the Magpies manager.

“He had a fitness test before the game and failed it, so we’ll have him scanned on Monday morning and will know the results on Monday afternoon.

“We’ll know more then, but to be honest he didn’t last that long in the fitness test.

I’m not sure (whether he’ll be fit to play against Aston Villa).”

Saturday’s defeat has plunged Newcastle back into the bottom three ahead of the final match of the season.

Their fate now lies in the hands of Hull City, as a draw at Villa Park will only be good enough if the Tigers lose at home to Manchester United in their final fixture.

If Newcastle win, they will survive if Hull fail to take three all points, or if Sunderland pick up a point or less from tonight’s game at Portsmouth and Sunday’s home match with Chelsea.

Hull’s game with Manchester United will be the cause of considerable conjecture this week, as Sir Alex Ferguson is unlikely to field a full-strength side at the KC Stadium.

Having already secured the Premier League title, Ferguson’s priority will be next Wednesday’s Champions League final in Rome, and the likes of Ben Foster, Federico Macheda, Danny Wellbeck and Darron Gibson are all likely to start against Hull.

Two seasons ago, a weakened Manchester United lost at home to West Ham on the final day of the season to keep the Hammers in the Premier League, but Shearer is unconcerned about the prospect of a repeat in six days time.

“Whenever Alex has been in that position, he has always put out a side that does his club proud,” he said.

“He’s always been fair to the rest of the league.

“Let’s not forget you’re talking about Manchester United here, and they have a bigger and better squad than anyone.

“I’m sure there’ll be a few squad players in there, but whoever he (Ferguson) puts out, I’m sure they will do their football club justice.

Whoever he puts out, Manchester United are so professional they will always go out and try to win the game. I don’t have any problems with that.”

Newcastle also play a side with little to play for, as sixth-placed Aston Villa are already guaranteed a place in next season’s Europa League.

However, with Villa having slipped out of the top five following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, Martin O’Neill insists his players remain focused on reclaiming the position they have occupied for the majority of the campaign.

“I hold Alan in high regard,” said the Villa boss.

“And I don’t want to sound patronising, but I feel for him. But we have to try to win the game for our own benefit.

“There is still a lot for us to play for. Everton won (on Saturday) to go above us, but we are still capable of finishing above them. It is still within our grasp, even if it is not within our control, so we have a lot to play for.

We have to do our part by winning at the weekend.”