Manchester United’s Michael Owen refuses to turn back on national team

Manchester United forward Michael Owen has revealed that despite his lack of involvement in recent years, he would jump at the chance to be involved in the England setup again.

Owen, who has received 89 caps and scored 40 goals for his country, has fallen out of favour under the regime of Fabio Capello but insists he has no hard-feelings about being dropped and would grab the chance if he was called up.

“Fabio Capello picked his first squad and I was on the bench. I thought: ‘This might be a sign that he doesn’t fancy me.’ The next time I wasn’t in the squad, and that’s just been that.” said Owen.

He continued:

“I would never turn my back on it, but obviously there’s a scar there that still hurts a bit. But I don’t get upset now when I’m not in the squad, like I used to.”

“If I got a call-up I’d be there within five minutes.”

The striker’s chances of a recall were also endorsed by his manager at United, Sir Alex Ferguson, who added that Owen offered something different:

“If you need a goal out of nothing there’s no one better in the game. England don’t have anyone like that,” said the Scot.

“He’s got it, there’s no doubt about that. Let’s be honest, Michael has that little gift that he can appear in the box from nowhere.”