Source: Telegraph
Michael Owen still 'one of best strikers in country' despite England absence
Owen's career could be invigorated by the arrival of new manager Alan Shearer at St James' Park but he remains bullish about his chances of regaining his England place.
"I know for a fact, if I do well for Newcastle, playing well and scoring goals, then, without sounding too big headed, I know I'm one of the best strikers in the country," Owen said.
"People can write good or bad things, but if I'm playing well my international career should take care of itself.
"I don't ever feel as though the door has been shut on me. You'd have to ask the manager though. It is a concern of mine because I love playing for my country, but it doesn't keep me up at night.
Owen has 40 international goals to his credit but his hopes of breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time record of 49 strikes have been jeopardised since Capello took the helm.
Capello refused to summons him for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, despite injuries to Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Peter Crouch against Slovakia and then Darren Bent.
"When I'm not in a squad it's big news," the 29-year-old continued.
"But if you look at how many squads I've been left out of, I think it's
only three or four when I've been playing for Newcastle and they have come when I've only just returned from an injury and I haven't been completely fit.
"With me, if I get an injury, it's on the back page and it's brought to everyone's attention. I think that's part of the reason people think I'm injury prone because it gets highlighted. It's the same with England.
"One or two games for your club before an international isn't enough and that is what the manager has said.
But people don't want to write that, they want to turn it into 'Owen snubbed again.'
"We'll let them have their fun and we'll see if I can get back into the squad."
