Kinnear 'feels sorry' for Owen

Magpies chief feels striker should have been selected

By James Dall   Last updated: 18th November 2008

Kinnear 'feels sorry' for Owen

Owen: Kinnear backing

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Newcastle United interim manager Joe Kinnear feels striker Michael Owen warranted a place in Fabio Capello's England squad to face Germany.

Owen, who has scored 40 goals in 89 international appearances, was overlooked by Capello ahead of Wednesday's friendly in Berlin.

The 28-year-old recently returned from a groin injury and has not represented his country since the 1-0 loss against France in March.

Kinnear said in the Daily Mirror: "I feel for him because of the situation he finds himself both for club and country.

"But he answered all this by scoring for us. For what it's worth, in my opinion he should be in the England squad. That's my honest opinion.

"He is a precious commodity. We are not trying to rein him in. But he has got to go slowly, slowly. He is one of the best players in the world and I am going carefully, carefully with him."