Hip injury keeps Fowler out for two months

Leeds striker Robbie Fowler is set to miss the first two months of the season after undergoing an operation on his persistent hip injury today.

The England frontman suffered the original injury against Derby in April, but overcame the blow to make the World Cup squad, allaying fears it was a serious problem.

But the hip injury flared up again in training during Leeds' pre-season tour of Australia and the Far-East.

Fowler underwent a scan while in Melbourne which picked up nothing, but he was sent home early from the tour as a precaution.

He underwent a second examination by the club's doctors who decided surgery was required, even though the new season is just over a fortnight away.