 |
 |
 |
|
LONDON (AP) -Another injury is threatening England striker Michael Owen's involvement in two crucial European Championship qualifying matches next month.
The new crisis is the latest concern for England coach Steve McClaren, who only recently got Owen back from injury in time to revive England's attempt to reach next year's tournament.
Owen, who came back from two injury-ravaged seasons, scored three goals in last month's 3-0 wins over Israel and Russia, but he then limped out of Newcastle's last two Premier League games and will have hernia surgery on Friday in Germany.
That could rule Owen out of the Oct. 13 match against Estonia and Oct. 17 meeting with Russia in Moscow.
If that wasn't bad enough, Emile Heskey, whose hard work on his return to the national team created the space for Owen to flourish, is also likely to miss the matches because of a broken foot bone.
Having rebuilt his injury-hit side last month, McClaren could now have to repeat the trick.
McClaren was missing Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Gary Neville, David Beckham, Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard last month, but fielded a successful side by resisting some seemingly obvious solutions.
Owen's restoration to the team was a no brainer and he justified his selection by taking his tally to 40 goals, just nine short of Bobby Charlton's England record.
Heskey's inclusion after three years out of the reckoning invited potential derision because of the burly striker's poor scoring record, but his selfless running, intelligent positioning and uncharacteristic assertiveness bought out the best in Owen.
With Gareth Barry excelling in central midfield, Micah Richards impressing at right back and Shaun Wright-Phillips dangerous on the right wing, McClaren seemed to have found a side that could carry England to the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
But Wright-Phillips is again out of the Chelsea team despite his best start to the season in three years, suggesting a potential search for a forward partnership won't be McClaren's only concern.
The most obvious solution up front is to recall Rooney and Crouch, who are available after injury and suspension, respectively. Both are dangerous players, but Rooney has not scored a competitive England goal in three years, while the bulk of Crouch's 12 international goals have come against poor teams.
There are few other options. Jermain Defoe isn't even a regular substitute for Tottenham any more, Andy Johnson has not scored for Everton in more than six months, and West Ham's Dean Ashton is only just back from a year out with an ankle injury.
Ashton thinks he is ready to play after scoring two goals this season, including a volley in Sunday's 3-1 loss to Newcastle - the second match that Owen limped out of.
"Emile Heskey was outstanding for England against Israel and Russia, so hopefully that shows there is room for a big guy up front," Ashton said. "Being an onlooker taught me a lot. I feel I've a better understanding of football."
There are fewer right-wing options, so Wright-Phillips would probably keep his place and McClaren will hope the diminutive midfielder's confidence hasn't been dented by his omission by new Chelsea coach Avram Grant.
