Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has conceded Michael Owen is likely to miss the start of the new season with a thigh problem.

Owen picked up a thigh injury in pre-season training and the problem is failing to respond to treatment.

The England international has endured an injury-ravaged two seasons on Tyneside playing just three games last season.

Allardyce has admitted Owen is set to sit out next week's Premier League opener at Bolton as the injury is more serious than first thought.

"It doesn't look as encouraging as we first thought," Allardyce told the Daily Mail.

"The tear in the muscle hasn't healed as quickly as we would like, so there's no point in making any rash decisions just to get him fit for the start of the season.

"It's about getting him 100 per cent for playing matches on a regular basis. That's why it has been more disappointing for him that he's missed pre-season games more than training.

"He's done enough training to last him a lifetime."