Michael Owen insists England boss Steve McClaren is a 'great manager'.
England striker behind under-fire boss
Michael Owen insists England boss Steve McClaren is a 'great manager'.
The Newcastle striker has become the latest member of the England squad to give his backing to the under-fire manager, with qualification for Euro 2008 now out of their own hands.
Defeat in Russia last month means that McClaren's men now need Israel to prevent Guus Hiddink's men claiming all three points when the two teams meet on Saturday.
Owen accepts that failure to qualify for the finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1994 World Cup is not acceptable, but insists McClaren should be given more time at the helm.
Growing
"Steve McClaren is a great manager," he said. "He is very hands-on and does almost everything.
"If you look at results and performances over the past six months or so, you would definitely say he is growing into the job.
"He was with us for a long time before he got the top job which was certainly an advantage. But the longer you are in a job the more you understand it.
"Personally, I like Steve. He is a good bloke and it is natural players would back him.
"But there is no hiding the fact we should be qualifying out of this group."
Owen admits England will only have themselves to blame if they fail to make the finals in Austria and Switzerland.
Major force
"Every player is fully behind the manager to turn this qualification around," said Owen.
"But I don't think he is looking for excuses. If we don't qualify, I am sure he will hold up his hands and say: 'We should have done.' I think everyone will do that.
"We are a proud nation that wants to be competing in all the big tournaments.
"But we are a major force in football. In the last dozen years or so we seem to get to every major tournament and then into the last eight.
"We could easily have gone on to win one of them but there is such a fine line at the top and you do need that little bit of luck.
"It sounds like the old English hard luck story but Spain, with their massive reputation, are struggling to qualify again. They have one of the best leagues in the world, so I am sure they are saying the same things as us."
