SAM Allardyce last night denied that Michael Owen's latest groin problem could require a hernia operation that would sideline him for up to four weeks, despite undergoing a precautionary scan.

But with Owen having complained of pain in his groin during Monday's 1-0 defeat at Derby, Newcastle officials have accepted they will have to use the striker sparingly over the next month in order to prevent his latest injury problem escalating.

Owen was withdrawn after just 56 minutes of the Magpies' dispiriting display at Pride Park following a peripheral performance in which he touched the ball only 14 times.

The striker appeared ill at ease as he toiled against a Rams defence that had conceded six goals in its previous game, leading to suggestions that his latest groin twinge could have been evidence of a more deep-rooted problem that would require surgery.

A hernia operation would sideline Owen for up to a month, ruling him out of Newcastle's Premier League games against Manchester City and Everton and jeopardising his involvement in England's crucial European Championships qualifiers against Estonia and Russia on October 13 and 17 respectively.

Allardyce insisted that Owen's substitution was a "precautionary measure" in the immediate aftermath of Monday's defeat, a claim repeated yesterday.

"Michael does not require a hernia operation and it is inaccurate to suggest otherwise," he said. "I took him off as a precautionary measure and I fully expect him to be fit to face West Ham on Sunday."

Nevertheless, Newcastle officials are understood to have accepted that Owen's latest injury concern will have to be managed carefully over the course of the next month.

Having missed almost all of last season as he recovered from cruciate ligament reconstruction, the 27-year-old is susceptible to sustaining muscular strains and pulls.

A pre-season thigh injury forced him to sit out the opening two matches of the season, and his latest groin problem is believed to have surfaced while he spent ten days on international duty with England earlier this month.

Allardyce remains confident that his recovery can be managed without the need for an operation, but Owen's availability will be limited in order to protect his groin. Newcastle play their next three games in the space of six days and it is inconceivable that the striker will be involved in all. Provided he starts against West Ham on Sunday, it is extremely unlikely that he will be part of the side that takes on Arsenal in the Carling Cup two days later.