Michael Owen's first season at Manchester United has been brought to a halt in a familiar story of injury and disappointment after it emerged that the striker needs an operation and will miss the remainder of the campaign.

Owen damaged his hamstring in the Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley last Sunday and a scan has shown that the damage is more serious than was believed at the time. What was thought to be a slight pull is actually a full tear and Owen will go into hospital on Monday. Any lingering hope of a call-up into England's World Cup's squad has been extinguished and his club manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, will have to complete the season with only two experienced strikers, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

"Unfortunately the specialist says I will miss the end of the season," Owen said. "I have loved every minute of my first campaign with Manchester United and have already enjoyed some memorable moments. I am determined to come back at the start of next season in peak condition."

Bookmakers have made Owen 1-8 never to play for England again after the latest setback in a career that has been almost as notable for his susceptibility to injury as his prowess in front of goal.

The striker had almost no chance of going to the World Cup anyway, having played only a peripheral role for United this season, 20 of his 31 appearances having come as a substitute.

The 30-year-old, who arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer from Newcastle United last summer, has scored nine times, including the equalising goal against Villa at Wembley. After that match it was suggested it would be "a few weeks" before he was fit again.

"Unfortunately it's more serious than we thought," Ferguson said. "It's a terrible blow for the lad and disappointing news for us too. He has never missed a training session all season. I think the heavy pitch at Wembley on Sunday made some contribution to it but really it is just bad luck."

Rooney's remarkable scoring form will compensate to a degree but United's other attacking options are limited, with Federico Macheda having regressed since his introduction last season and Daniel Welbeck, tipped by Ferguson last summer to be a World Cup player, on loan at Preston North End.

Berbatov's form has been erratic – the Bulgarian has a similar record to Owen with nine goals in 31 games, 21 of them starts – and the Senagalese striker Mame Biram Diouf is new to English football after signing from the Norwegian club Molde in January.