HAMSTRINGS ARE NO PROBLEM FOR OWEN

The Liverpool striker has already pencilled next Saturday's England clash against Sweden in his diary, and he is looking forward to throwing himself headlong into action.

"I am not worried about my hamstring," he declared.

"I'll admit that two years ago I was a bit cautious when I was running but at that time I was having problems with it.

"But I've only had one major hamstring injury in the last 15 months. That's a massive improvement and if I keep that going then I'll get rid of the problem altogether."

The 21-year-old has been coaxed through the difficulties by German doctor Muller Wolfhart, and Owen is quietly confident that his expert guidance, coupled with a taxing regime of stretching exercises, will see him finally put his injury woes behind him.

"I haven't beaten it totally," he continued. "And I'll continue to do what I'm supposed to. I work on it every day.

"It's a problem for players who rely on explosive pace. I know Ryan Giggs has had similar injuries, but I haven't spoken to him about it yet."

The Chester-born ace also admits that he is placing his faith in the judgement of Gerard Houllier and Phil Thompson as he beats a path along the comeback trail.

"At the moment I don't know whether it's better for me to start games or come on as a substitute while I'm building up my match sharpness.

"But if you look back at my career it's not as if I've done it in the first minute of coming on or in the last minute - it is variable.

"One thing I am sure of though, is that I'm certainly not worried about it."