Manchester United (6/4 with totesport to win the Premier League title) will be without Michael Owen for the rest of the season, after the striker was told he needs an operation on a hamstring injury.

The former Real Madrid star pulled up during the first-half of Sunday’s Carling Cup final, having scored the equaliser against Aston Villa, and had to be replaced by Wayne Rooney.

Scans revealed Owen will need surgery to cure the problem and the injury looks set to end his hopes of featuring for England (11/2 to win the 2010 World Cup) in South Africa this summer.

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed: “It is a terrible blow for the lad. It is more serious than we thought. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley played some part, but it’s also bad luck.”

Despite not being a regular starter for United, the 30-year-old has scored nine goals in all competitions this season.

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Carling Cup hero Wayne Rooney is a doubt for the international friendly against Egypt on Wednesday (England 3/10 draw 16/5 Egypt 8/1 - match betting) because of a knee injury, according to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The red-hot England striker took his goals tally to 28 in all competitions (Rooney 3/10 Premier League Top Goalscorer) this season with a winning header in the 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at Wembley on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was introduced from the substitutes’ bench just before half-time for the injured Michael Owen, who now faces three weeks out because of a hamstring injury, and Ferguson revealed Rooney had been playing with some discomfort for a few weeks.

“He got a whack right away,” Ferguson said. “He has been complaining about that for a few weeks and I thought we might have to take him off.

“The doctors are assessing it. I don’t know what England are going to do.”

England manager Fabio Capello is expected to make a decision on Rooney’s availability for Wednesday’s visit of the African Nations Cup winners in the next 24 hours.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has told his Manchester United players the only way they will enjoy Wembley on Sunday is by winning the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa (Aston Villa 16/5 draw 12/5 Man United 20/23 - match betting).

The Scot has stressed his players must not get caught up in the emotion of the day when they compete in their fourth League Cup final in eight years - and their third in five – against Martin O’Neill’s Champions League hopefuls.

Villa famously prevented United from winning a domestic treble in 1994 when they recorded a 3-1 win (33/1 Correct Score) under the stewardship of former Old Trafford boss Ron Atkinson.

This time around. Ferguson knows Sunday is an ideal opportunity to put an another trophy on the shelf and insists winning – not the occasion – is all that matters.

“Wembley is an occasion. It has always been that way,” said Ferguson.

“But the only way you can enjoy Wembley is by winning. We have got an opportunity to win something on Sunday. It is not a nice day when you lose.”

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John Carew could return from a knee injury when Aston Villa travel to White Hart Lane on Saturday to take on fellow top-four hopefuls Tottenham (Tottenham evens draw 9/4 Aston Villa 9/4 Premier League - match betting), according to manager Martin O’Neill.

The giant Norway striker (8/1 First and Last Goalscorer) has been unavailable for the last four games but has suffered no reaction since returning to training and could make the late clash in north London.

O’Neill said: “John has been training the last few days now and has had no reaction. Therefore, in terms of fitness, he would be in better condition than he was last week.”

O’Neill also revealed skipper Stiliyan Petrov is expected to feature against Harry Redknapp’s men despite an ongoing Achilles problem.

The former Celtic playmaker needed an injection at half-time during the Carling Cup semi-final second-leg against Blackburn but has had some extra days off to rest.

He added: “We are just going to have to monitor Stiliyan. We have games coming up and he is keen to play on. This week, with no midweek match, has given him a bit of a breather.”

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Jamie O’Hara says he is up for a relegation battle with Portsmouth (2/9 to go down in the relegation market) after re-joining the club on loan for the rest of the season.

The midfielder spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Fratton Park, making a big impression down on the south coast, and has now returned from Tottenham (11/4 to be league winners without the big four) to finish the job of helping Pompey stay up.

After another traumatic week for the financial stricken club, which has seen their players not paid again and the sale of Younes Kaboul go through, Avram Grant takes his side to Eastlands on Sunday to face Manchester City (8/11 to beat Pompey with a minus one handicap).

City are likely to be desperate to get back to winning ways after being knocked out of the Carling Cup in mid week by bitter rivals Manchester United and will see the visit of Portsmouth as a perfect opportunity to pick up a much needed three points.

Rock bottom Portsmouth are 11/1 to get a win at Eastlands this weekend with Grant likely to struggle to fill his bench with players thin on the ground at Fratton Park.

Despite their current dilemmas O’Hara believes Pompey are good enough to avoid relegation and says no matter what happens he will battle on until the bitter end.

“I would much rather come here, have a scrap and if we go down, at least I can hold my head up high and say I’ve done my bit for the club,” said O’Hara when asked why he had re-joined Pompey.

“But we’ve got a good squad and we’ve got to believe that we can get out of trouble.”

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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claims Manchester City’s financial muscle will have no bearing on Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford (United 8/13, City 9/2, draw 11/4 90 Minutes).

The two sides meet for a place in next month’s final against Aston Villa at Wembley (United 10/11, City 4/5 Carling Cup To Qualify) with City leading 2-1 from last week’s first leg at Eastlands.

And, despite City’s owners funding a £120million spending spree to bolster their ranks last summer being followed by more recent reports claiming United are currently working with debts of over £700million, Ferguson insists that will not affect the outcome of the game as the clubs go for Carling Cup (United 2/1 Outright) glory.

“This has nothing to do with anything other than it is a local derby and it is a semi final.” said Ferguson.

“It doesn’t matter if they had no money or little money. It is a route to the final and it is going to be a different game.

“I am certain the atmosphere will be fantastic.”

Ferguson must decide whether to appeal against Rio Ferdinand’s violent conduct charge for hitting out at Hull’s Craig Fagan on Saturday ahead of the game.

If they do appeal Ferdinand will be able to play against City but could have a three-match suspension extended to four if the Football Association deem that appeal to be frivolous.

That would keep the influential defender out of United’s next four Premier League matches and possibly hamper their bid for a fourth successive title (13/5 Premier League Outright).

Phil Brown has challenged his Hull players not to freeze on the big stage against champions Manchester United on Saturday (Man United 1/7 draw 5/1 Hull 12/1 Premier League - match betting).

Victory at Old Trafford in the day’s only Premier League fixture would life the Tigers out of the relegation zone (Hull 5/4 Premier League - To Stay Up) and KC Stadium boss Brown believes it is an ideal time to play Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

United were beaten 2-1 by local rivals Manchester City on Tuesday to leave their Carling Cup hopes in the balance and remain without key players such as Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

Brown feels United could there for the taking and has told his Hull players to go and express themselves.

“We’re not going to go there looking to shut up shop and I’m not going to go there and ask my players not to play,” Brown said.

The Tigers claimed a precious point in a goalless draw against top-four hopefuls Tottenham last weekend and Brown wants more of the same collective spirit.

He added in the Hull Daily Mail: “The quality of defending on show last weekend was tremendous. There was a collective mentality and togetherness that made me very proud as a manager.

“I sat the players down on Wednesday and told them that but that’s what we’ll need every week between now and the end of the season.”

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Manchester United (7/4 to win at Eastlands) will welcome back Darren Fletcher for Tuesday night’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Manchester City (6/4), while Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic could also feature.

Midfielder Fletcher missed United’s 3-0 victory over Burnley through suspension but is available for the derby showdown at Eastlands and is expected to start the game.

Berbatov (7/1 to score the first goal on Tuesday) limped off against the Clarets but is expected to recover from a dead leg, while Vidic has missed the last three games but is making a good recovery from a nerve problem in his leg.

Veteran winger Ryan Giggs is likely to be rested by Ferguson, while youngster Federico Macheda has a hamstring problem and looks set to miss out.

Meanwhile, City will be without injured striker Roque Santa Cruz – who could be sidelined for a month with a calf problem – while recent signing Patrick Vieira is ineligible.

There is some better news though for Roberto Mancini, as Stephen Ireland is expected to be named in the City squad after recovering from a hamstring problem.

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West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has admitted he has doubt about whether he can save the Hammers from relegation going into Sunday’s crunch game with Aston Villa.

The east London outfit (13/2 to beat Villa in the 90 minute betting) travel to Villa Park imbedded in the relegation zone after a tough season for the little Italian.

Zola has had to endure a dreadful run of injuries at Upton Park this season and may struggle to fill his bench on Sunday with ten first team players currently sidelined.

The Hammers (1/5 to stay up this season) have won one of their last six matches and have picked up maximum points on the road just once so far in this campaign.

West Ham’s current plight has lead some to suggest that Zola could well get the chop soon as the club continues to search for a new owner.

While Zola does admit he may not have the managerial experience to save the Hammers he is determined to battle on until the end.

“I am going to fight,” the Italian vowed. “It is normal that when things are not going in the right direction you doubt what you are doing.

“No matter what comes against me, I am going to come through and bounce back. I have no doubt.”

Zola will need to instil that fighting spirits in what is left of his troops going into Sunday’s game with Villa (13/10 to beat West Ham with a minus one handicap).

Martin O’Neill’s side are likely to be on a high after beating Blackburn (6/4 to beat Fulham on Sunday’s coupon) one-nil in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg and could prove too tough a nut to crack for Zola’s men.

Roberto Mancini has said he rates Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal above his Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title (Man City 12/1 Premier League - Outright).

The Italian takes his players to Goodison Park in the late Saturday fixture for a difficult assignment against Everton (Everton 17/10 draw 11/5 Man City 13/8 Premier League - match betting) hoping they can consolidate a place in the top four.

The former Internazionale boss has won his opening four games since being installed as the successor to Mark Hughes and has a Carling Cup semi-final double-header against local rivals United to look forward to.

Mancini feels a more realistic target is securing Champions League football and does not expect City will overhaul the usual suspects.

“To my mind there are three teams who can win the league; Chelsea, United and Arsenal,” he said.

“Football can be strange and things can change in a couple of months.

“There are other teams who are only just behind so nothing is totally impossible but for me, it is between those three.”

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