Owen is back for England but he's only invited to Fabio's Wembley party

13 October 2009 10:01
Michael Owen will prove his determination to be part of England's World Cup campaign by joining Fabio Capello at Wembley on Wednesday. [LNB]Capello has invited 32 players to the game against Belarus who are not in his 23-man squad but who have been called up at some point since he took charge of his first game in February 2008. [LNB]Owen has won just one of his 89 caps under the Italian and that came in a 45-minute cameo as substitute in a friendly against France 19 months ago. [LNB] Come in No 10: Manchester United striker Michael Owen will be back in the England fold on Wednesday night but only as a guest of Fabio Capello at Wembley[LNB]But the 29-year-old Manchester United striker will make the 370-mile round trip to watch England's final match of their World Cup qualifying campaign and meet Capello after the game. [LNB] Barry back for Belarus after Carrick fails his England audition in UkraineHeskey in quit threat: Aston Villa striker desperate to protect World Cup spotRooney KO: England boss Capello loses his 'incredible' Man United starLampard urges England's fringe men to take advantage of Rooney's absence  Like David Beckham, he is keen to play in a fourth World Cup for England and prove he retains the finishing instinct which has brought him 40 international goals. [LNB]Wayne Rooney, released from the squad on Sunday after suffering a slight calf injury during Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Ukraine, has also indicated he intends to return south to watch his team-mates against Belarus. [LNB]Capello insists no-one is under obligation to attend and absences will not be treated as a character blemish. [LNB]The idea behind the invitation was to make a gesture of inclusion to those who helped him reach the World Cup finals in South Africa with two games to spare. [LNB]Party time: Fabio Capello insists nobody is obliged to attend his Wembley get together on Wednesday[LNB]Most will be keen to accept but it provides logistical problems, especially for those from northern clubs and anyone undergoing intensive treatment. [LNB]Rooney fits both of those categories and if anyone could be excused, it is the striker who scored nine goals during qualification, but he has told the FA he will be there. [LNB]He and Owen will then fly back north with their United team-mates. [LNB]Sir Alex Ferguson will ask his players to train in the afternoon on Thursday, to offer extra time to those flying back from further afield. [LNB]The players who accept Capello's invitation will watch the game from one of Wembley's private boxes and then head down to the dressing-room after the final whistle to hear the manager's end of campaign address. [LNB]THE A TO Z OF FABIO CAPELLO'S 55 ENGLAND SELECTIONS...Gabriel Agbonlahor, Dean Ashton, Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry, David Beckham, Darren Bent, DavidBentley, Wayne Bridge, Wes Brown, Jimmy Bullard, Michael Carrick, Gary Cahill, Scott Carson, AshleyCole, Carlton Cole, Joe Cole, Peter Crouch, Curtis Davies, Jermain Defoe, Stewart Downing, Rio Ferdinand, Ben Foster, Steven Gerrard, Robert Green, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Hart, Emile Heskey, TomHuddlestone, Phil Jagielka, David James, Jermaine Jenas, Glen Johnson, Ledley King, Chris Kirkland, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Joleon Lescott, Joe Lewis, Michael Mancienne, James Milner, Gary Neville, Michael Owen, Scott Parker, Micah Richards, Paul Robinson, Wayne Rooney, John Terry, Matthew Upson, Theo Walcott, Stephen Warnock, David Wheater, Jonathan Woodgate, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young, Luke Young. [LNB]The Italian is anxious, however, not to turn the event into achampagne celebration. Qualifying for South Africa was always theminimum requirement and the players will not be paraded on the pitch tosoak up the applause of a crowd expected to be higher than 70,000. [LNB]'The players who were with us in every game, friendlies or qualifiers, were important,' said Capello last weekend. [LNB]'Someof them were only here once but they are in my mind and in my thoughts.This is a reward for them. We are grateful for what they have done. Iwill not forget any of my players.' [LNB]These include Michael Mancienne and David Wheater, who played for the Under 21 team in a crucial European Championship play-off against Wales at Villa Park last October, then climbed straight on a plane and flew through the night to provide back up for the senior team in Belarus. [LNB]The young central defenders played no part in Minsk and have since slipped away from contention, victims of Gary Cahill's emergence. [LNB]They seem outsiders for the plane to next year's World Cup, as do Jimmy Bullard and David Bentley, but Capello's move is smart. [LNB]He knows he will have to plunder this back-up pool if his first-choice players suffer injuries and it will lift their spirits and extend their loyalty to know that their efforts have been appreciated. [LNB]  Barry back for Belarus after Carrick fails his England audition in UkraineHeskey in quit threat: Aston Villa striker desperate to protect World Cup spotRooney KO: England boss Capello loses his 'incredible' Man United starLampard urges England's fringe men to take advantage of Rooney's absence [LNB]  Explore more:People:Ashley Cole, Ledley King, James Milner, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Bridge, Emile Heskey, Joe Cole, Stewart Downing, Matthew Upson, Aaron Lennon, Michael Owen, Gareth Barry, Jermaine Jenas, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Young, Frank Lampard, Joleon Lescott, Owen Hargreaves, Rio Ferdinand, Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, Ben Foster, Alex Ferguson, John Terry, Peter Crouch, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gary Cahill, David Beckham, David Wheater, Dean Ashton, Gary Neville, WES BROWN, David Bentley, Joe Lewis, Tom Huddlestone, Jimmy Bullard, Joe Hart, Glen Johnson, Paul Robinson, David James, Robert Green, Darren Bent, Fabio Capello, Luke Young, MICHAEL CARRICK, Gabriel AgbonlahorPlaces:Wales, South Africa, United Kingdom, France

Source: Daily_Mail