GLENN ROEDER will hold crisis talks with chairman Freddy Shepherd tomorrow amid fears Newcastle United will be without Michael Owen for even longer than initially expected.

Owen was at the club's Darsley Park training base yesterday morning with his father for Newcastle to assess the ruptured anterior ligament in his right knee.

But, such was the awkwardness of his fall during England's draw with Sweden, there are concerns he has also damaged the medial ligament.

If that proves to be the case then the five or six months he is expected to be out of action could be nearer nine.

Roeder has spent the last five days at Warwick University, studying for his UEFA Pro Licence, but returned to the region last night.

And he will head for talks with Shepherd to work out a way of coping during the striker's absence when the Premiership season starts again on August 19 at home to Wigan.

Roeder is now on the look out for two strikers and he will have to convince Shepherd to loosen the purse strings further, while the option of recruiting a free agent such as Middlesbrough's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink remains an option.

Owen has expressed his personal disappopintment, saying: "The injury is a big blow because after the World Cup, I was really looking forward to the new season with Newcastle.

"Now I have to accept I'm going to be out for a while again, but what will help me is the support of the fans.

"I feel really guilty when I think of the people at Newcastle United. I think of the chairman Freddy Shepherd, Glenn Roeder, the manager, and those great fans who have only seen me for 11 matches."

What the striker's long lay-off does mean, however, is Roeder looks destined to be ready to retain the services of winger James Milner, despite interest from Middlesbrough, Wigan and Aston Villa.

"I have already met James and I have told him I am very happy for him to stay," said Roeder. "He told me while he understood nobody can be guaranteed first-team football all he wanted was a fair opportunity."

* Newcastle have confirmed they will play Dutch side PSV Eindhoven at St James' Park on July 29 (kick-off 4pm).