MICHAEL Owen has suffered an injury scare and is out of the Newport Gwent Dragons team to take on Borders in the Celtic League at Netherdale, Galashiels, tomorrow night.

Owen is due to have a medical examination and hospital scan and is already struggling to make the Dragons' opening Heineken Cup-tie against Newcastle at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday.

The Wales star, who plays at lock or number eight though preferring the back row, injured his back again during Wales training this week.

He woke up yesterday morning after two days in the Welsh training camp at the Vale of Glamorgan complaining of a sore and stiff back and withdrew from the Dragons team for tomorrow.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock is concerned about Owen's injury. "Obviously I'm disappointed to hear Michael has got some difficulty with his back and I will be contacting Dragons physio Mike Delahaye to find out the extent of the injury," he said.

"But until I ascertain how it happened and receive a medical report it's difficult for me to comment otherwise."

Dragons coach Chris Anderson is unhappy Owen suffered the injury away from his environment.

"It's a blow for Michael, it's the last thing he needed now that he was getting some games under his belt," he said.

"It's unfortunate as we need our best players out there, but naturally we're hoping to have him for the Newcastle game."

Owen has been a victim of a number of back injuries, notably the one which forced him out of last year's World Cup. He missed the Llanelli Scarlets game last month with a different back injury, but was fit again the following week.

Dragons threequarter Hal Luscombe has been recalled to the Wales squad and trained with them less than three weeks after he damaged his shoulder against Glasgow.

Anderson is waiting to see if there is any reaction today and could rush him straight back in against Borders, though there is also a doubt about fellow threequarter Nathan Brew, who has a hip injury.

Apart from Owen's injury and the Luscombe/Brew situation, Anderson keeps the changes to the expected minimum.

Owen is replaced by Peter Sidoli, but the only other change is at loose head prop where Adam Black makes his first start of the season.

"There's no point in tinkering. It's my job to pick what I consider to be the best team and players have to earn a place either through injury or loss of form," said Anderson.

"The guys who have got us in this position deserve to be there and it doesn't send out a good message to start mucking about with the team."

Dragons: K Morgan, G Wyatt, P Montgomery, S Tuipulotu, N Brew/H Luscombe, C Sweeney, G Cooper, A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, I Gough, P Sidoli, J Ringer, R Bryan, J Forster. Replacements (from) B Breeze, S Winn, G Baber, R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, L Charteris, R Beattie. Kick- off 7.30pm.