Michael Owen must continue to wait for another England chance
but head coach Fabio
Capello has confirmed the Manchester United striker will
be welcomed back into the squad if he can rediscover his scoring
touch.
Owen missed out on a place in Capello's squad for next week's
friendly against Holland in Amsterdam, while veteran Portsmouth
goalkeeper David
James did not feature due to injury and Peter
Crouch was also omitted.
Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle frontman Owen won
the most recent of his 89 caps against France in March 2008, but
his move to Old Trafford this summer has provided him with the
platform to return from the international wilderness, in time for
next summer's World Cup.
Owen was left out by Capello while he struggled with his fitness
at Newcastle, but the striker has shown signs of returning to his
best form during United's pre-season campaign.
His chances of an international recall improved dramatically
when Sir Alex Ferguson paired Owen with Wayne
Rooney and he may have another chance to impress in
Sunday's Community Shield against Chelsea.
"I think it is a fantastic chance for Owen to play another time
with a really important team and in the Champions League," said
Capello.
"It is another chance and that is really important for the
player. The door is open.
"He has to play well and score goals. He has to get back to what
he was before last season."
When asked if he believed Owen could rediscover the form that
saw him score 40 goals for England during a career that began in
February 1998, Capello replied: "It is very important to play with
an important team.
"He is young, he is only 29. He is not old, so why not?"
Capello also believes that playing with Rooney can enhance
Owen's chances, but any player has to demonstrate he is at the top
of his game to ensure he is selected.
"We choose the players in form at the right moment," said
Capello. "Rooney is in a good moment of form. It is important for
the future to know the movement better, it will be easier for both
of them.
"I want to keep the spirit of the group, to stay together, to
prepare for the next really important game against Croatia. It's
very important to play well and I will choose the best."
Another player in his squad is David
Beckham, who will fly over from America for the
match.
Beckham has told Capello he wants to remain a part of the
England set-up despite being criticised by fans of the Los Angeles
Galaxy.
Beckham left Galaxy to play for AC Milan at the end of the
American season and Capello says it is important for his future
England career that he continues to play first-team football,
meaning he will need a move when the Major League Soccer season
comes to a close this autumn.
"I spoke about this problem last year," said Capello. "He played
with AC Milan and played very well and was happy. If he wants to
stay with us he has to play.
"Now he plays with the Galaxy, but he wants to play with them
and England.
"This is the problem. The fans have to understand also he is
English, this is the reason why he played with AC Milan.
"It's a long flight to come here. But we know he wants to stay
(with us) because Franco (Baldini, an assistant of Capello) spoke
with him and met him and said he wants to come."
The timing of next week's friendly, just three days prior to the
start of a new season, has concerned some Premier League
bosses.
But Capello said: "It's not a problem because the players are
fresh.
"We will decide with the players and speak with them because
some will have played Saturday, others will have played Sunday. The
training will be different.
"I respect managers and their ideas. It is important to have a
relationship with the managers but more important is that when the
players play with us, they have to understand my style.
"Every manager has a different style and I respect that. I speak
with managers always about the general situation about the players,
but after that I decide.
"If a manager tells me a player is tired and can play only until
half-time, okay, it is not a problem. But I will decide."