UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE:MICHAEL OWEN affected a studied nonchalance when the vexed subject of his seemingly fast-fading international career was raised yesterday.
“I don’t go to bed thinking about if I will play for England again,” said the Manchester United striker as he looked forward to being given a starting place against CSKA Moscow tonight. “I think about playing well for United and the rest will take care of itself.”
Owen has long been synonymous with measured calculation and he kept his cool when it was suggested that goals on the Champions League stage could boost his hopes of catching Fabio Capello’s eye. “I suppose so,” he said.
“The last squad I was in was a year ago now. It’s something that other people talk about more than I think about. I would love to play for them again – that is the bottom line. Yes, I can influence my chances by playing well and playing in the Champions League has got to help. But England’s not something I really think about.”
Such outward indifference contrasts with Owen’s frequent comments on his near obsession with wearing shirts adorned by three lions during his Newcastle United days but a desire to conceal inner emotions is understandable after several injury-punctuated seasons.
Even so he is annoyed by the assumption that he has to score to play well. Amused that his rating was seven out of 10 when he scored but played averagely at Barnsley last week but only five for a decent, if goalless, preceding game against Bolton, Owen said: “I don’t need to get a goal to play well. At Barnsley I thought I was pretty average but scored a good goal. I thought I was better against Bolton when I didn’t score.”
It is five years since his last involvement in Europe’s elite competition with Real Madrid and Owen admitted that its lure helped attract him to Old Trafford. “There are many reasons to join this club but one of the big ones is the thought of playing on Champions League nights,” he said.
Looking far more at ease with his surroundings than he ever did at Newcastle, Owen seems to have found a natural habitat. “I’ve loved every minute of it here,” he said.
It has helped that he has pretty much remained fit and Owen hinted that this was partly due to United’s impressive sports-science infrastructure. “I’ve only missed one game through injury,” he said.
Although a couple of Owen’s many injuries have been career-threatening, CSKA’s new manager saw his own goalkeeping days ended after 13 professional appearances. Leonid Slutsky, who succeeds the recently-dismissed Juande Ramos, turned to coaching after damaging himself falling from a tree.
Wayne Rooney’s participation is in doubt after the birth of his first child. The 24-year-old forward missed training yesterday morning in order to be with his wife, Coleen, who gave birth to Kai Wayne Rooney yesterday.
Manager Alex Ferguson is already without central defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand (both knee), while Ryan Giggs (hip) has also already been ruled out. Dimitar Berbatov is also doubtful after taking a blow on the kneecap against Blackburn so Federico Macheda is set to partner Owen. Park Ji-sung will not be considered either, with Ferguson confirming the South Korean has been put on a two-week fitness programme after suffering a series of minor ailments.
The good news for Ferguson is that captain Gary Neville is back from suspension and Scotland star Darren Fletcher will start after a month out with an ankle injury.
Guardian Service
Manchester Utd V CSKA Moscow,Tonight, Old Trafford Kick-off – 7.45pm Live on TV3 Sky Sports 2
