England News

• Nickname:Three Lions
• Founded: 1872
• Manager:Roy Hodgson

• Ground:Wembley Stadium
• Capacity:90,000

Owen overlooked by Capello

05 Oct 2008 - 20:12:23

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England coach Fabio Capello has omitted striker Michael Owen from his 23-man squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Capello has also overlooked Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, while Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole are both absent due to injuries.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard returns to the fold after injury, while Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips have been recalled to the squad.

Capello had earlier dropped a major hint that Newcastle United ace Owen would not be named in the squad.

The Italian told reporters: "It is not enough only to score goals. The goals are very important, but it is not only the goals.

"It is very important, but sometimes one player has not played for 89 minutes and he scores a goal, it is not enough."

Squad: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom); Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Beckham (LA Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).