Michael Owen determined to get back into England squad

Apr 1 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

MICHAEL Owen is determined to force his way back into the England squad as he fights to save his international career under Fabio Capello.

Owen’s international future has once again been the subject of intense speculation after Capello refused to call the Newcastle striker into his squad for tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, despite injuries to Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Peter Crouch against Slovakia.

Darren Bent, called up to the squad as cover on Saturday, pulled out of training yesterday and Capello sent for Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor – currently struggling for form at club level – as his replacement, further illustrating how Owen currently rates in the thinking of the national team coach.

The United captain has not played for England since coming on as a substitute against France in Paris back in March last year, withdrawing from the squad for last summer’s friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago and the USA with a virus and Capello has ignored him since.

The Italian has insisted Owen’s exclusion is due to fitness and form, not ability, but doubts remain as to whether the £16.5m signing from Real Madrid will ever manage to regain his place in the side.

“When I’m not in a squad it’s big news,” said Owen, whose chances of a call-up were not helped by the fact he was only a substitute in Newcastle last game against Arsenal ten days ago following an ankle injury.

“But if you look at how many squads I’ve been left out of, I think it’s only three or four when I’ve been playing for Newcastle and they have come when I’ve only just returned from an injury and I haven’t been completely fit.

“With me, if I get an injury, it’s on the back page and it’s brought to everyone’s attention. I think that’s part of the reason people think I’m injury prone because it gets highlighted. It’s the same with England.