GRAEME Souness will seek an update on Michael Owen's fitness after a groin strain kept the Newcastle striker out of the 3-0 defeat at Chelsea.

The United manager is confident his leading scorer will be fit to partner Alan Shearer in Sunday's game at Everton but, given his club's appalling injury record this season, he will be taking nothing for granted ahead of today's diagnosis.

Owen injured his groin at the end of Friday's training session and, while he travelled to London hoping to play against the champions, it was decided that he would not be risked.

In his absence, Shola Ameobi struggled to make an impact as Newcastle failed to create a single chance until the middle of the second half.

"It's not serious," said Souness, who watched his side slip back into the bottom half of the Premiership at Stamford Bridge. "Michael felt his groin in training on Friday.

"He thought he would get away with it but, on Saturday morning, it was clear that it wasn't quite right. He was down in London hoping to play, but he travelled back up north at lunchtime."

If Owen does recover in time to play at Goodison Park, he should be lining up alongside Shearer.

The Newcastle skipper had a hernia operation during the recent international break and, while last weekend's game came too soon for him, he is expected to return to full training today.

Spaniard Albert Luque, who was an interested onlooker at Stamford Bridge, is another player who should be back in the squad on Sunday, with full-back Stephen Carr also likely to travel to Merseyside.

This weekend's trip to Everton precedes successive home games against Aston Villa and Arsenal and midfielder Nolberto Solano accepts that his side must get back to winning ways after Saturday's setback.

"It's gone and we've got to look forward and focus on what lies ahead," said the Peruvian. "We will work hard this week because we know it will be a hard game against Everton and we need something.

"If we want to finish in the top four we need to start taking points away from home. It is important to bounce back - if we play like we did in the first half at Chelsea, we will be fine.

"No disrespect, but Everton are not Chelsea. They are a much different team and I think they will give us chances."

Solano was part of a five-man midfield unit that competed tigerishly against the champions. Scott Parker and Lee Bowyer held their own against Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, while Emre impressed in the first half before his midweek exertions took their toll.

Emre was part of the Turkey team that lost a World Cup play-off to Switzerland and Souness was impressed with the way he handled the disappointment.

"I thought Emre was excellent considering everything he had been through," said the Scot. "He had a very demanding game in midweek - a game that Turkey had to chase from start to finish - but he responded superbly.

"He's had to do a lot of travelling and, with the emotions involved, he's had a very difficult week."

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