London, Dec 17: Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen will not return to first-team action until the new year as he is still struggling to overcome a thigh injury, the club has said.
That means Owen will miss Saturday's trip to Wolves as well as the match against Bolton on December 26 and the clash with Manchester City on December 28.
French youngster Florent Sinama Pongolle could deputise alongside Emile Heskey in the Liverpool attack, according to a statement on the club's website.
Of the six first-team players out of action in the 2-1 defeat against Southampton at Anfield on Saturday, only Australian international striker Harry Kewell has a chance of being fit for this weekend's clash at Molineux.


Bureau Report