Michael Owen may never be called up by England boss Fabio Capello By Darren Lewis 26/03/2009
Ruthless Fabio Capello has hammered another nail into Michael Owen's England coffin by admitting the injury prone striker may NEVER be called up while he is in charge.
It is a year today since Owen last played for his country, in a 1-0 friendly defeat against France in Paris. The 29-year-old Newcastle marksman came on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney at half-time and made no impact.
Now, with Slovakia and Ukraine looming into view over the next seven days, fit-again Owen - not even first choice for his club last weekend - is England's forgotten man.
His demise, 11 years after his debut aged 18 years and 59 days, has been stunning. Since March 26 last year, Capello has called on a whole host of strikers whose international records in front of goal are either non-existent or far inferior to Owen's 40 in 89 appearances.
Yet free-scoring England sit proudly on top of their World Cup qualifying group and Capello has warned Owen not to expect the situation to change any time soon.
In an interview with World Soccer magazine, Capello said: "I only ever call up the best players, or at least the players who are the most suited to the way I wish to play.
"I will never close the door to the national team on anyone.
"But you also have to remember that, in modern football, only the players who are in peak physical condition can make the most of their technical abilities."
Advertisement - article continues below »
Owen has made just 53 League starts in four years at Newcastle - less than half their games played - during an injury-ravaged stay on Tyneside.
In that time Emile Heskey has come in from the cold to take his place in the squad alongside Rooney.
Even the likes of Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Alan Smith and Gabriel Agbonlahor have seen more action.
At one stage Owen appeared certain to pass Sir Bobby Charlton's 49-goal mark as England's leading goalscorer and join the elite club of players who have won a century of caps.
Now, as England gather for another two Wembley dates, the best the country's forgotten striker can hope for is to win back his club place and avoid the ignominy of relegation.
OWEN'S YEAR OF UPS AND DOWNS .. BUT NO GAMES FOR ENGLAND26/03/08 - Came on as sub for England in Paris .. game ends in 1-0 defeat
5/4/08 - Scores sixth goal in six games for Newcastle. Finishes season with 11 goals
May-July - Mumps keeps him out of England friendlies. Misses pre-season due to calf injury
23/08/08 - Makes Newcastle comeback against Bolton and scores only goal
14/12/08 - Scores in 3-0 win at Portsmouth for ninth goal this season
10/01/09 - Scores in 2-2 draw with West Ham - his last goal for Newcastle
28/01/09 - Picks up ankle injury against Man City. Out for six weeks
14/03/09 - Returns against Hull this season
21/03/09 - Relegated to the bench for Arsenal game
