Michael Owen Out in Cold As Fabio Capello Rules Out England Recall for Injury-prone Striker
Michael Owen will miss out on England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine despite injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole
Fabio Capello last night ruled out recalling Michael Owen from the international wilderness as a replacement for the injured Emile Heskey ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.
Heskey returned to Aston Villa yesterday after scans revealed he had suffered a hamstring injury early in Saturday's 4–0 defeat of Slovakia. He followed Carlton Cole in departing Capello's squad, the West Ham United forward having suffered a groin strain. He has been replaced by Darren Bent, though the England coach will not consider Owen, whose credentials he has ignored since the end of last season.
The 29-year-old striker, who returned after seven weeks out with an ankle problem to start Newcastle United's recent draw with Hull, only to be dropped for the subsequent game against Arsenal, has 40 goals from 89 caps. Asked whether history counted for anything when it came to finding a replacement, Capello said: "I have to choose the players to play against Ukraine, not against history. You have to choose the players who've played a lot of games. It's impossible to choose one player that played only 20 minutes [against Arsenal]. Why didn't he play longer in the last game? Because he was dropped. So I have to choose the players in good form. I choose the best players who are in a very fantastic moment."
Owen's injury problems have frustrated his attempts to make an impression under Capello, though the forward has been overlooked when available. He featured in the Italian's first three squads, playing the second half in a defeat against France in Paris, only to withdraw from the friendlies against United States and Trinidad last summer, citing mumps. He had played games – albeit after recent injuries – and scored goals in the build-up to the qualifiers in September and October and the friendly with Germany in November, only to be ignored, with Capello increasingly favouring a more muscular lone striker.
The likes of Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor have been preferred and Peter Crouch is now the most likely starter on Wednesday despite suffering a dead leg against Slovakia. Capello has also opted against calling up Bolton's uncapped Kevin Davies, who might be considered similar to Heskey. "We have to choose the players I know better," said the Italian. "I know Bent and Agbonlahor, but he was injured with the Under-21s."
Capello gave David Beckham a 109th cap against Slovakia, the midfielder breaking Bobby Moore's England outfield record with his second-half performance, though the veteran is expected to be on the bench on Wednesday. Aaron Lennon impressed in flashes with his pace down the right and was withdrawn at half-time to preserve his energy for the greater test ahead.
"Both Lennon and Steven Gerrard are in fantastic form and do not need to play too much," said Capello. "Now they can recover and be fresh for Wednesday. It was better Aaron played half the game. He was too quick for their defenders and if he'd stayed on any longer they'd only have tried to foul him and bring him down."
Heskey returned to Aston Villa yesterday after scans revealed he had suffered a hamstring injury early in Saturday's 4–0 defeat of Slovakia. He followed Carlton Cole in departing Capello's squad, the West Ham United forward having suffered a groin strain. He has been replaced by Darren Bent, though the England coach will not consider Owen, whose credentials he has ignored since the end of last season.
The 29-year-old striker, who returned after seven weeks out with an ankle problem to start Newcastle United's recent draw with Hull, only to be dropped for the subsequent game against Arsenal, has 40 goals from 89 caps. Asked whether history counted for anything when it came to finding a replacement, Capello said: "I have to choose the players to play against Ukraine, not against history. You have to choose the players who've played a lot of games. It's impossible to choose one player that played only 20 minutes [against Arsenal]. Why didn't he play longer in the last game? Because he was dropped. So I have to choose the players in good form. I choose the best players who are in a very fantastic moment."
Owen's injury problems have frustrated his attempts to make an impression under Capello, though the forward has been overlooked when available. He featured in the Italian's first three squads, playing the second half in a defeat against France in Paris, only to withdraw from the friendlies against United States and Trinidad last summer, citing mumps. He had played games – albeit after recent injuries – and scored goals in the build-up to the qualifiers in September and October and the friendly with Germany in November, only to be ignored, with Capello increasingly favouring a more muscular lone striker.
The likes of Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor have been preferred and Peter Crouch is now the most likely starter on Wednesday despite suffering a dead leg against Slovakia. Capello has also opted against calling up Bolton's uncapped Kevin Davies, who might be considered similar to Heskey. "We have to choose the players I know better," said the Italian. "I know Bent and Agbonlahor, but he was injured with the Under-21s."
Capello gave David Beckham a 109th cap against Slovakia, the midfielder breaking Bobby Moore's England outfield record with his second-half performance, though the veteran is expected to be on the bench on Wednesday. Aaron Lennon impressed in flashes with his pace down the right and was withdrawn at half-time to preserve his energy for the greater test ahead.
"Both Lennon and Steven Gerrard are in fantastic form and do not need to play too much," said Capello. "Now they can recover and be fresh for Wednesday. It was better Aaron played half the game. He was too quick for their defenders and if he'd stayed on any longer they'd only have tried to foul him and bring him down."
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