Johnson is ruled out for England
The livewire Everton striker sprained his ankle badly during the recent defeat at West Ham andis struggling tofigure in the last two games of the season.
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Yet the operation, planned for the end of the season, will be on his other ankle to remove a bone spur. It means he will miss most of the summer and the international that could determine England manager Steve McClaren's future.
England have struggled for goals, with the burden firmly on Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch. Jermain Defoe and David Nugent are struggling for form while Michael Owen's return is timely but Newcastle are still expected to resist.
They remain on collision course with the FA despite Owen playing a full game at Reading on Monday night after 10 months out with a knee injury.
Even if Owen plays in their two remaining Premiership games, Newcastle officials remain unconvinced that he will have proved he is ready to go straight into the England side.
Aside from Owen's lack of matches, chairman Freddy Shepherd is showing no signs of relenting in his fight with the FA over the £150,000 which he believes they should pay for the player's medical bills.
