Michael Owen

The omission of Michael Owen from the England squad is probably the major talking point of Capello’s selection. Hopefully it does not signal the end of his England career, however he does not seem to be in Capello’s mind. Capello perhaps does not see any advantage in a player who will be 30 at the time of the 2010 World Cup.
Once an automatic selection and now not in the squad things have not turned out well for Owen.
Michael Owen’s impact on the England team as an eighteen year old was sensational. His place in the team since 1998 has never really been in doubt. He scores goals and looked likely to become England’s all time top scorer. The move to Real Madrid perhaps is where it began to go wrong for Owen. Since 1998, Michael had been Liverpools’s top scorer every season. He signed for Madrid in 2004 and even with a lack of starts in the Madrid team he still managed to score a highly respectable thirteen goals in La Liga, with the season’s highest ratio of goals scored to number of minutes played. He was never a first choice at Madrid and in hindsight the move was probably a mistake. Signing for Newcastle in August 2005 he has been been beset with injuries though is the club Captain. This season has seen him return and amidst the turmoil at Newcastle has conducted himself very professionally. Indeed throughout his career Michael has always conducted himself well and could be described as a model professional. He is undoubtedly a natural goal scorer and it is slightly surprising that at the very least Capello does not see Michael Owen as a substitute to come on during a game in the same vein as he sees Beckham’s role. He afterall has masses of experience and the target of 50 goals for country would make him hungry to score, and that is always what Owen has been about.
Whilst it is a setback not to be in the squad, I am certain that Michael will react correctly and fitness prevailing will do all in his power to get back into the squad. An in form Michael Owen can never be ignored and hopefully in 2009 he will get his chance again.