And Liverpool could also find Emile Heskey sidelined for two vital cup ties this week because of a thigh injury.

Gerard Houllier's side face a make-or-break week that sees them play Palace and then an FA Cup fourth-round clash at Leeds on Saturday.

It means Fowler, who has been the subject of intense transfer speculation in the last few weeks, will team up with new Finnish star Jari Litmanen in attack.

Houllier told Radio 5 Live: "Robbie will start against Crystal Palace."

For Owen, this latest setback is a bitter blow, with new England boss Sven-Goran Erikkson soon to announce his first squad for the friendly with Spain at Villa Park on February 28.

He would have hoped Owen - as well as Heskey - would be fit and available, but that may now not be the case.

Owen's season started so well, with him scoring six in his first nine games to demonstrate that his injury setbacks were behind him.

Then he suffered a bad head injury at Derby in October, and needed two brain scans before he was allowed to play again.

Houllier admitted at the weekend that Owen has not been psychologically right since that injury, and that was the reason for the lack of confidence recently and the fact that the front man has missed so many crucial chances of late.

Houllier said: "Michael is definitely out of the game on Wednesday. He felt his leg at the end of the Boro game.

"It is his hamstring which is causing the problem and we will need to find out exactly how bad it is. He said he felt something in his leg.

"At this stage I would say he will probably be out for two weeks, but we will know more later this week.

"It is a blow for us because when Michael came on against Middlesbrough, he had chances to make things happen in half an hour, and it was a shame he couldn't take one of his chances."

Houllier knows Liverpool must pull back Palace's 2-1 lead from the first leg to reach the first final under his control at Cardiff in March. But now he only has Fowler and a short of match fitness Litmanen to play up front.

"This is exactly why I have been saying we need four strikers. Look what would have happened if we didn't have all these players. It is possible we will be going into the semi-final with just two left."