Injured Owen Named in England Squad for Qualifiers

Michael Owen has been included in the England squad for their upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia despite his ongoing injury trouble.

Owen is currently recovering from surgery intended to resolve nagging groin and stomach complaints, and Sam Allardyce had previously insisted Newcastle, for whom Owen has not played since September 23, would decide whether he could play or not. But England manager Steve McClaren claims he had no qualms including Owen for the two games - at Wembley on October 13, and in Moscow on October 17 respectively - and said he intended to play the striker if at all possible.

"I'm delighted," said McClaren. "Two or three weeks ago it was an impossibility really but he had the operation, he has come through it well and has been training one-to-one with the physic this week. He says he is flying, feeling very very good. Newcastle will assess him and hopefully he'll play on Sunday. If not, he'll join up with us on Tuesday. If Michael Owen is fit, Michael Owen will play."

Everton's uncapped defender Joleon Lescott was named as one of a number of inexperienced inclusions, alongside Aston Villa striker Ashley Young (also uncapped), Reading's Nicky Shorey (one cap) and Blackburn's David Bentley, who made his international debut against Israel last month.

Dean Ashton is also in line for his first cap, having recovered from the broken ankle he suffered just days after he was called up for the first time last August.

Other players returning from injury include Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, who have been absent for Chelsea and Manchester United of late with a thigh problems. Lampard's Chelsea team-mate John Terry is expected to still play in a protective face mask, as he did during Chelsea's Champions League win at Valencia on Wednesday.

Full squad for England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth),Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa), Richards (Man City), Brown (Man Utd), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Campbell (Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), Shorey (Reading), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard (Chelsea), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Smith (Newcastle), Ashton (West Ham), Defoe (Tottenham), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool).