You are in > manchester.com  > News > Owen's England career in doubt after being left out again

General Sport

Owen's England career in doubt after being left out again

05/10/2008

Fabio Capello has left out Michael Owen again for England's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Capello also left the Newcastle United striker out of the squad that beat Andorra and Croatia.

Owen, 28, has since played in all six of Newcastle's games and is their top-scorer with five goals.

But Capello has snubbed the forward for the games against Kazakhstan and Belarus, casting doubts over his international future despite being the leading scorer of all-time among England internationals still playing - with 40 goals in 89 caps.

Capello has stuck with Theo Walcott and Emile Heskey who impressed in the 4-1 thumping over Croatia last month while Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is recalled after four goals in his last three games.

Joe Cole is out after suffering a foot injury in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Fulham's Jimmy Bullard and Tottenham Hotspur winger David Bentley are left out and replaced by Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has impressed after re-joining Manchester City.

Aston Villa's Scott Carson replaces the injured Paul Robinson as the third-choice goalkeeper.

England face Kazakhstan at home on Saturday before travelling to Minsk four days later to face Belarus, looking to continue their perfect start in their bid to qualify for South Africa 2010.

Full England squad:

Goalkeepers: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom).

Defenders: Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Strikers: Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).