Michael Owen believes Andros Townsend will be an automatic selection for England's decisive World Cup qualifier against Poland on Tuesday - but cautioned against the 22-year-old looking too far ahead.
Townsend enjoyed an outstanding debut, picking up man-of-the-match honours and also scoring a memorable goal in a 4-1 win against Montenegro at Wembley on Friday.
That victory leaves England knowing victory this week will book a place at next summer's World Cup without the need for a hazardous play-off, with Townsend now tipped to make Roy Hodgson's final 23-man squad.
However, Owen feels it is unwise to look too far beyond Tuesday, when he is sure the Tottenham man will play.
"Certainly he is an automatic selection for the next match," Owen told BBC Radio Five's Sportsweek programme.
"Andros has been playing particularly well for Tottenham and there had been a couple of injuries to Theo Walcott and the like so the place was up for grabs.
"It was no surprise to me that he played.
"We needed to score goals and we needed to win the game.
"He is quick, exciting and direct and he can beat a man. It was a very good move from Roy Hodgson to play him.
"But there are so many big gaps between games. You might play fantastically well one day, then be poor in the next and your place is under scrutiny.
Source: PA
