Soccer

Owen included in McClaren's squad

Steve McClaren has included Michael Owen in his squad to face Estonia and Russia in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, despite the fact…

Fri Oct 05 2007 - 01:00

Steve McClaren has included Michael Owen in his squad to face Estonia and Russia in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, despite the fact that the Newcastle striker has yet to recover from stomach surgery.

McClaren has spoken to Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce and has given the England striker the green light for the double header, where six points would see England virtually into next summer's finals.

Chelsea defender John Terry is also included after playing in a protective mask in midweek as the Blues won in Valencia.

Dean Ashton is back in his first call-up since McClaren's first game in charge against Greece in August 2006 when he broke his ankle in training.

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The West Ham striker has had two operations since then.

Frank Lampard is also called up after recovering from a thigh injury which has ruled him out since the end of August.

A high-profile absentee is David Beckham who has been out of action with a knee injury he sustained on August 29th and only returned to training with Los Angeles Galaxy yesterday.

Also injured at the moment are Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Emile Heskey.

England claimed 3-0 victories over Israel and Russia to go second in the group last month and McClaren has no qualms about including Owen now as they go in search of finishing the job and securing qualification.

"I'm delighted," the England boss told Sky Sports News. "Two or three weeks ago it was an impossibility really but he had the operation, he has come through it well and has been training one-to-one with the physio this week.

"He says he is flying, feeling very very good. Newcastle will assess him and hopefully he'll play on Sunday. If not, he'll join up with us on Tuesday.

"If Michael Owen is fit, Michael Owen will play."

England Squad: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth),Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa), Richards (Man City), Brown (Man Utd), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Campbell (Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), Shorey (Reading), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard  (Chelsea), Young (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), Owen (Newcastle), Rooney(Man Utd), Smith (Newcastle), Ashton (West Ham), Defoe (Tottenham), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool)