Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder has admitted £17million striker Michael Owen may not kick a ball this season.

The 26-year-old England striker is currently awaiting a second operation to repair his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and is facing months on the sidelines.

Renowned specialist Dr Richard Steadman has already performed one procedure at his clinic in Colorado, and is expected to complete the job within the next couple of weeks. That has left the Magpies short of strikers and Roeder admits it is not a situation which will be resolved quickly.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "It's a long-term injury. I don't know if he (Owen) will play again this season. He's getting the best possible treatment and will have the best surgeon in the world operating on him.

"Michael has an injury that will take a fair bit of time to repair. If we put a date on it and we say that he will be back by next March and then he's not fit, then it will cause more problems."

Owen's injury and Alan Shearer's retirement has seen Newcastle cast their net far and wide in search of a replacement, although that process received another blow today when Liverpool announced they have agreed a fee with Feyenoord for Dirk Kuyt.

The Magpies also had a long-standing interest in Kuyt, but were not prepared to meet his club's asking price after failing to be convinced by him despite watching him on several occasions.

Newcastle have learnt to their cost in recent seasons the folly of paying above their valuation of a player - they initially insisted they would go no higher than £6million for Spaniard Albert Luque but eventually handed Deportivo la Coruna £9.5million.

With Roeder's predecessor Graeme Souness having got through a staggering £50million in just 16 months in charge, cash is at a premium, and that could leave the manager having to make do, in the short term at least.

Newcastle launch their domestic season at home to Wigan on Saturday with Shola Ameobi likely to play as a lone striker, although the manager has concerns behind him.

Goalkeeper Steve Harper is on standby after Shay Given missed the Republic of Ireland's friendly with Holland with a back problem, while Duff returned early with a twinge in his groin and Stephen Carr came off with a tight hamstring.

Roeder is hopeful all three will be able to play, and he knows just how important that could be with a positive start and the completion of qualification for the UEFA Cup imperative if he is to attract his remaining targets to Tyneside.

Celtic have emerged as competitors for Real Madrid midfielder Thomas Gravesen's signature, but while he and Wayne Bridge remain targets, the manager's focus remains up front.