England striker Michael Owen has been assured his knee operation will not end his career.

Owen, who had the cruciate ligament operation performed by world-famous surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in America, revealed in The Times how he was given the good news as soon as he came round at the clinic in Denver.

"When I came round after my cruciate ligament operation the surgeon was standing by my bedside," said Owen. "'Whatever makes you retire from football it won't be your knee,' he told me straight away."