lsgworldl
10-05-2004, 12:54 AM
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed Michael Owen will be fit for Saturday's World Cup tie with Wales.
The Real Madrid striker was substituted in Sunday's loss to Deportivo, adding to rumours that his lack of action this season could jeopardise his place.
But Eriksson said Owen would recover from what he called a 'minor' injury.
"Our feeling at the moment is that it should only keep him out of one or two training sessions so we expect him to be available for selection," he said.
Owen came off after 52 minutes of Real's defeat on Sunday after his injury was discovered at half-time.
Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon said: "Rather than forcing it, we thought it was best to rest him and put on Fernando Morientes."
Wayne Rooney's return to fitness combined with Jermain Defoe's impressive start to the season means Eriksson is not short of options up front.
I am not a fan of Owen - if he plays on Saturday, it's a joke
From Rodric
Have your say on 606
Owen has had a difficult time since his £8m move from Liverpool to the Bernabeu in the summer and made only his second start of the season on Sunday in place of the injured Ronaldo.
He has yet to score for Real, and missed two good chances against Deportivo, volleying wide from inside the area and then miskicking on the edge of the six-yard box.
But Real legend Emilio Butragueno, who is now the club's sporting director, has backed Owen to be a success in Spain.
"I was a striker, and strikers miss chances. What he needs to do is to remain calm, and I am certain his moment will come," he said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3712554.stm
The Real Madrid striker was substituted in Sunday's loss to Deportivo, adding to rumours that his lack of action this season could jeopardise his place.
But Eriksson said Owen would recover from what he called a 'minor' injury.
"Our feeling at the moment is that it should only keep him out of one or two training sessions so we expect him to be available for selection," he said.
Owen came off after 52 minutes of Real's defeat on Sunday after his injury was discovered at half-time.
Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon said: "Rather than forcing it, we thought it was best to rest him and put on Fernando Morientes."
Wayne Rooney's return to fitness combined with Jermain Defoe's impressive start to the season means Eriksson is not short of options up front.
I am not a fan of Owen - if he plays on Saturday, it's a joke
From Rodric
Have your say on 606
Owen has had a difficult time since his £8m move from Liverpool to the Bernabeu in the summer and made only his second start of the season on Sunday in place of the injured Ronaldo.
He has yet to score for Real, and missed two good chances against Deportivo, volleying wide from inside the area and then miskicking on the edge of the six-yard box.
But Real legend Emilio Butragueno, who is now the club's sporting director, has backed Owen to be a success in Spain.
"I was a striker, and strikers miss chances. What he needs to do is to remain calm, and I am certain his moment will come," he said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3712554.stm