Owen: Rooney an ideal partner

The Liverpool striker is a big fan of England's most hotly rated talent, and feels that the two of them could become a fearsome combination.

"There is massive potential for us as a partnership," Owen told the News of the World.

"You can never look too far ahead but there is a possibility we could stay together for England for a long time - maybe the next 10 years.

"There are a lot of other England strikers who will come into the reckoning and deservedly so and the current and future England managers might have their own ideas about who should play up front.

"Age is certainly on our side. Wayne is only 17 and I am 23 so we have time to develop a good working relationship.

"I have only seen Wayne play a few times but there was one incident against Turkey which told me a lot about him.

"He picked up the ball on the left and went on a run which took him past a couple of defenders.

"Everyone was expecting him to shoot - but he played a pass through to me which unfortunately the keeper got to first.

"However, the move said a lot about his vision and awareness.

"We are different as players but that is a good thing because we can complement each other.

"I have become more of a penalty-box player, pushing right up on the last defender and getting on the end of moves.

"Wayne is more of an all-rounder. He can score goals but does a lot more work outside the box. He can go past people as well as being able to shoot from long range.

"He has also got strength and explosive pace, which reminds me of Alan Shearer.

"He has also got some of Alan's determination and is difficult to shake off the ball.

"Wayne is a quiet lad and is still finding his way around the international scene.

"It can be quite daunting to be thrust into a group of senior players when you are that age.

"But Wayne will get all the help he needs and I know my Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard has taken him under his wing.

"Wayne has only played around 35 times for Everton - and many of those were as a substitute - and he still has a lot to prove.

"But you have to trust the evidence of your own eyes and from what I have seen Wayne is the real thing.

"He is one of a new wave of youngsters who are coming through the ranks like Joe Cole, Jermaine Jenas, John Terry, Jermain Defoe and James Beattie and I am sure there will be others.

"The future looks very bright for England."