WORCESTER City's leading scorer Mark Owen could miss the rest of the season after breaking his leg during Saturday's 3-2 victory at St Blazey in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The striker, who is 24 today, fractured his tibia and fibula in a freak accident after being knocked unconscious by a clearance in the 10th minute of the match.

Surgeons operated on Owen at Truro's Royal Cornwall Hospital yesterday morning and he is expected to return to Worcester later today or tomorrow.

Club secretary Steve Bond said early indications were that Owen would be out for four to six months but added the full extent of the injury will only be revealed later this morning when the orthopaedic surgeon inspects the ankle.

City boss John Barton, who suffered a similar injury during his playing career at Everton, said it was a huge blow for both club and player.

"To say it is a blow is an understatement but we have to get on with it," he said.

"We want Mark back as quickly as possible but in the meantime we will have to get on with the job without him."

Owen, who recently signed a new two-year deal, has struck 17 goals this season including his 100th goal for the club and has completed a hat-trick of hat-tricks to date.

Barton's striking options will be further reduced when Mark Shepherd, who scored twice against St Blazey, begins a three-match ban in next Saturday's home clash with Tiverton Town, following his red card in the 2-2 draw with Ilkeston Town in a Dr Martens Premier Division clash last week.

Attacking midfielder, Darren Middleton, looks set to move up front if Barton is unable to bring in another forward in the next week.

"Middleton is an option for us but I would like to think we can bring in a striker as well as another player but it takes time," he added.

Barton is also set to lose defender Allan Davies for two matches, starting from their fourth qualifying round tie on October 27, after he was red-carded as City celebrated their third goal.

"If you are going to send people off for celebrating then you are going to have no one left on the field," he said.

"It was typical of the referee to misinterpret what was said because he had done most of the match."