Owen holds England hope

Striker says Man Utd move can help international career

Last updated: 4th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Owen holds England hope

Owen: Ambitious

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Michael Owen has declared his ambition to break back into the England squad following his move to Manchester United.

The striker has fallen down the England pecking order since Fabio Capello's appointment but he believes the switch to Old Trafford can only help his chances.

Owen signed a two-year deal with Premier League champions United on Friday following the expiration of his Newcastle contract earlier in the week.

"Obviously if I am fit and playing well then I have got a better chance of getting back into the England squad and I am sure my team-mates, with their quality, will help me to do that," he told Sky Sports News.

"If I play well then I'd like to think I can force my way back in. There are internationals coming up and I'd be a fool to say I wouldn't want to be a part of it.

"I think I have 89 caps for England and it would be great to add to that. There is a burning desire to do well for whatever team I play for."

Critics

Owen's latest transfer has raised one or two eyebrows but he admits he is growing accustomed to having more negative press than he did earlier in his career.

The 29-year-old is nevertheless confident that he can rediscover his best form with United and silence the doubters.

"I have probably taken more stick in the last couple of years than I have in my career and there are lot of people out there that can be quite bitter or nasty," he said.

"Sometimes you feel like you are almost a criminal the amount of stick you get, but as a footballer you always get the last chance to go out there and prove what you can do.

"That is obviously what I am hopefully going to be able to do. I am totally confident in myself to produce again because you don't lose things overnight."

No fitness problems

Owen accepts that he had a difficult time at St James' Park but maintains that his fitness is not a problem, even though he has often been described as injury prone.

He explained: "I have had a frustrating few years and it is disappointing that Newcastle have been relegated but I have played 33 games and 32 games for Newcastle over the past two seasons and we were not in Europe and didn't go far in any of the cups.

"If I play a similar percentage for Manchester United then hopefully they will be getting 40-plus games out of me.

"I have played over 500 games for club and country and I am still in my 20s, so I don't see it as me being injury prone whatsoever."