Kinnear backing for Owen

Magpies boss expects striker to be recalled in time

Last updated: 11th October 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kinnear backing for Owen

Owen: Tipped for recall

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Joe Kinnear is confident Newcastle United striker Michael Owen is still in England coach Fabio Capello's thoughts.

Owen was overlooked by Capello for the upcoming games against Kazakhstan and Belarus and has yet to feature in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Indeed, the former Liverpool forward has made just one substitute's appearance for England since Capello replaced Steve McClaren as coach.

However, his current club boss Kinnear believes it is only a matter of time before the man who has scored 40 goals in 89 caps is back in the squad.

Impossible to ignore

"Michael Owen will play for England again, I'm sure about that," said Kinnear in the Daily Express.

"He's the fourth best goalscorer in England. I don't just mean now, I mean ever.

"The England manager just wants to try a few new things out, but Michael will be in his thoughts, I'm confident about that.

"He is impossible to ignore because he will always score goals, it's as simple as that.

"Michael will just get on with it and he will continue to focus on his Newcastle career, because he is that type of person. He's been into training this week and he has been fine. He is a model professional and I've thoroughly enjoyed working with him already."