Newcastle

Time for the real Michael Owen to stand up

By Paul Meadows ⋅ June 18, 2006 ⋅  Print This Post ⋅ Post a comment

Michael Owen simply must produce the goods against the Swedes in Cologne on Tuesday evening.

When Michael Owen smashed in a hat-trick against Colombia in the United States last summer, it put him within sight of the home straight to become the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the England national side.

After that meaningless friendly game, he talked about his desire to land that most elusive of records. He realised his treble striker had moved him above such luminaries as Alan Shearer, Tom Finney and Nat Lofthouse, and seemed in confident mood that the other three above him would also eventually be caught.

And barring something of a collapse, Owen will one day reach the eight goals he now needs to catch Jimmy Greaves. Four more after that would see him equal Gary Lineker, whilst another two would ensure he overtook Sir Bobby Charlton to become the most prolific of all English strikers.

The Manchester United legend scored his 49 goals from a total of 106 appearances, and won his last cap under Sir Alf Ramsey in that 1970 World Cup defeat to West Germany four months short of his 33rd birthday. Owen will win his 80th cap against Sweden on Tuesday, knowing that if he is to at least match Charlton’s longevity for the national side, he has another six years ahead of him.

Yet at the moment, it looks as though the Newcastle United man could need those six years if he is to score the goals he requires to replace Charlton in the record books.

Yet at the moment, it looks as though the Newcastle United man could need those six years if he is to score the goals he requires to replace Charlton in the record books.

In the nine appearances he has made since he hit that hat-trick against the Colombians, Owen has found the net on just three occasions. Two of those came in that tremendous last-gasp friendly victory over Argentina in Switzerland, whilst the other was a World Cup warm-up against Jamaica at Old Trafford earlier this month.

The reason for this poor return could be put down to a horrific 2005/06 season, in which he suffered with injury. This resulted in a loss of the sharpness which much of his game depends on, and whilst this can hardly be argued, what is of debate is how long can England wait for the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man to regain this particular attribute?

Against Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago, Owen’s performances have been the most disappointing. That is not to necessarily suggest he was any worse than his faltering colleagues, but despite his apparent loss of touch in front of goal and his evident lack of match fitness, he travelled to Germany as the main goalscorer from a squad of 23 players.

Because whilst Wayne Rooney may be billed as the catalyst in the team, Steven Gerrard the inspiration in midfield and John Terry the bedrock of the back four, if England are to go all the way to the final and maybe even win the tournament, then Owen becomes just as vital as anyone Sven Goran Eriksson may care to select in his starting eleven.

So the question remains: how long does Eriksson stick with Owen?

He has already stated the striker will partner Rooney against Sweden in Cologne at the expense of Peter Crouch who, no matter how hard you may want to believe, remains far from convincing at this level. Yet should Owen fire another blank and there are no further signs of that sharpness returning, can Eriksson really trust him to take on Ecuador or maybe even the host nation in the second round?

Should the Germans provide the opposition, there will simply be no room for passengers - even those with 36 international goals to their name.

Despite the impressive form of the South Americans in progressing from Group A, it is hard to see them making it past the last sixteen. Should England meet them in the second round, it would be a huge upset for Eriksson and co not to be taking their place in the quarter-finals. Yet should the Germans provide the opposition, there will simply be no room for passengers - even those with 36 international goals to their name.

The options have been discussed and debated in schools, work places and pubs the length and breadth of the country, and a number of variations have been stumbled upon. With Rooney now back in action and, we are told, fit and raring to go, maybe now it is now time to cast the United star as the key man for the national side once again.

But instead of looking for someone for the former Everton youngster to play alongside, Eriksson may well opt to use the obvious strength of depth he has to pick from in his midfield. If the manager was being really daring, he would draft in Michael Carrick to play the holding role with Frank Lampard slightly ahead, and Joe Cole and David Beckham on the flanks.

And instead of using Owen to partner Rooney, he could choose the Gerrard option to play just behind the England number nine. With both Owen and Aaron Lennon waiting to come off the bench, and Crouch and Theo Walcott also on stand by, the options would be obvious even to Eriksson.

Tags: England, Michael Owen

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