DEFENDER Gareth Owen insists his brittle cheekbone will not force him to change his uncompromising style as he prepares to go under the knife today.

The 27-year-old requires an operation to straighten two fractured bones in his cheek after a clash of heads aggravated the injury during Tuesday's 2-2 home draw with Torquay.

Owen initially suffered the double fracture during Vale's Johnstone's Paint Trophy defeat at Bradford City on November 10, but has been playing with the aid of a protective face mask.

Owen, who is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, said: "I don't really see the consequences of my actions half the time and that's why I pick up a few injuries and bumps.

"I see the ball, I see I need to win it for my team and that's what I get paid to do. But I've never been worried about what's going to happen.

"I'm raring to get going again and I've already pencilled in what days I should be back running, as well as my overall fitness targets."

The former Stoke City trainee will undergo surgery at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

He expects to be back running in a fortnight before making himself available for first-team selection a week later.

While he is ruled out of tomorrow's FA Cup second-round home clash with Huddersfield, he is also likely to miss league clashes against Lincoln City (December 1), Morecambe (December 5), Northampton (December 12) and Chesterfield (December 19).

"It's frustrating because you can do without injuries like this," added Owen.

"I want to be back fit and playing to the best of my ability every Saturday.

"I'm now going to be on the sidelines through no fault of my own.

"I've just gone to win the ball for my team and I've clashed heads with somebody.

"But sometimes you have to bite the bullet because there's nothing you can do. You have to look at the positives, and hopefully the operation will make my cheekbone very strong."

It's not the first time Owen has been forced to wear a face mask after suffering a fracture to the same cheekbone while playing for Stockport County.

But it did not prevent him from skippering the Hatters to a 3-2 League Two play-off final victory against Rochdale in May 2008.

And he will be not be throwing away his latest model as he sets his sight on another comeback.

"I've got to wear the mask as soon as I'm fit and ready to play," said Owen.

"I hope to be back within three weeks and then I'll have to wear the mask for the first two weeks while the bones are knitting back together."