Newcastle claim the 27-year has suffered a slight groin strain during his recovery from his knee problem, which once again has us wondering why it is always Newcastle that suffers these ridiculous injuries?
And add to that, Shola Ameobi (who played for the Reserves in midweek) will not be risked and also needs further time.
Owen Groin Strain Has Toon Army Gutted
Obviously Roeder has to be careful not to rush back his star player with just four games of the season remaining, but a groin strain?
Shay Given is still missing with his groin injury but Kieron Dyer (hamstring), Scott Parker (ankle) and Antoine Sibierski (knee) could all return.
However, winger Damien Duff will miss the rest of the season with the ankle injury he sustained at Portsmouth last Saturday.
Chelsea have no fresh injury worries ahead of the trip to Tyneside.Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko is expected to have shaken off the minor leg injury that kept him out of the 4-1 win over West Ham in midweek.
Arjen Robben is recovering from knee ligament damage but is not ready to return to first team action.
Newcastle (from): Harper, Srnicek, Solano, Carr, Babayaro, Taylor, Bramble, Onyewu, Moore, Ramage, Butt, Parker, Milner, Emre, Dyer, N'Zogbia, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua.
Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole, Bridge, Obi, Makelele, Lampard, Essien, Ballack, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Shevchenko, J Cole, Kalou.