Owen set for England return

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 26th August 2008

Michael Owen Newcastle United Bolton Wanderers Premier League Football

Owen: Made goal-scoring return for Newcastle

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Michael Owen looks set to make his international return when Fabio Capello names his next England squad on Sunday.

Capello will wait until after this weekend's Barclays Premier League fixtures to name his squad for the opening World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia.

And although the Italian coach has not yet confirmed if he will attend Newcastle's visit to Arsenal on Saturday, Owen may have already done enough to secure his England return after being ruled out of their last three internationals.

The Newcastle striker came off the bench to score the winner against Bolton last Saturday and England's other strikers have made an uninspiring start to the new campaign.

Little threat

Jermain Defoe, Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney all failed to impress in last Wednesday's friendly against the Czech Republic while Defoe and Portsmouth strike partner Peter Crouch posed Manchester United few problems at Fratton Park on Monday.

Owen can also allay any doubts about his fitness this evening against Coventry in the Carling Cup and against Arsenal at the weekend.

Whether or not Capello is at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, he is sure to have a busy weekend.

Owen Hargreaves and Gary Neville are set to feature for Manchester United in Friday's Uefa Super Cup clash with Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco, while Chelsea, Tottenham, Aston Villa and Liverpool are all in action on Sunday afternoon.

Capello will also check on the fitness of Manchester City's Micah Richards (concussion) after admitting he took a gamble by naming an expanded squad for the Czech Republic friendly before the weekend fixtures.