Football News : Michael Owen won't turn back on England

By ESPNsoccernet staff

Michael Owen has admitted it is highly unlikely he will ever play for England again - but says he will never make himself unavailable for selection.

With 40 goals in 89 gaps, Owen was one of the deadliest strikers of his generation and is fourth on England's all-time scoring chart.

But Owen has never seriously featured in coach Fabio Capello's plans, only ever featuring as a sub once in an international friendly against France in March 2008.

Owen's decision to join Manchester United and become a bit-part player further hampered his chances of forcing his way into the international set-up.

Owen told the Observer: "I was in every squad for over a decade and all of a sudden it stopped one day.

"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.

"Fabio Capello picked his f irst 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.''

Owen, 31, was also quick to defend his ability to perform at the highest level after a career blighted by injuries.

"I was born to score goals," he said. "How I score them - how I get the ball into the back of the net - might have changed. The actual ability of what I was born to do will never leave me.

"I used to be able to create a lot for other people, move defences all over the park, make great diagonal runs into channels, turn and beat players. I can't do that as much as I used to be able to. But what I've done is refine my game to be more clever, get into different positions, be more instinctive around the box."

Owen has previously explained that he chose to join Manchester United to be with the best and to win medals, insisting that he would not have been happy playing for a mid-table club after leaving Newcastle United.

"In many ways that's what harms your chances of a place - the fact that we are so bloody good," Owen said of the United squad. "The strikers are just fabulous. No matter where you look there are world-class players, and they're a good range of ages, virtually every type of striker.

"It's one position where we're particularly well off. Even at 31 I'm enjoying learning how different people play and how you can play along side them. That's the positive.

"I could have gone to lots of other clubs and earned more. The attraction from Man Utd's end was that they could get a free transfer and use their name and their ability to win trophies and their kudos to attract players such as me. That's where they've got an advantage, where they wouldn't have to pay bigger wages.

"At other clubs a wealthy investor might have to pay twice as much as everyone else because if they don't they won't get the player. My situation is the opposite. I've been attracted to the club by the players, by the manager, the ability to win things. Money is not the motivation. I've had a great career. I've done really well.

"I wanted to play under the manager and in a fantastic team. I just can't believe how many people think otherwise."