Capello has made four changes to the squad bringing in Peter Crouch ahead of Owen to complete his striker selection. Capello hinted last week in a press conference that he was unlikely to pick the Newcastle captain after a poor start to the season for the club and the need for a striker who can do more than score goals.

England coach Ray Clemence has spoken out over the decision to drop Owen:

"Michael has great belief in his own ability and quite rightly.

His record speaks for himself. He has got to continue to play and continue to score goals and I'm sure an opportunity will come his way again.

He has proven he can score goals at the very top level, in World Cups and European Championships. So if he is playing to the best of his ability I'm sure Fabio will consider him.

The four strikers who are there at the moment are all scoring goals and therefore they are there on merit.

Newcastle need somebody to steady the ship. Joe Kinnear I'm sure will do a good job in the time that he is there but they need somebody long term so the players and the fans know where the club is going.

Until that happens it is difficult for the team to perform consistently week-in, week-out on the pitch.

Michael has a strong belief in his own ability but you can only finish the chances that are created for you. He has the ability to score goals off his own bat but a lot are from inside the box from people delivering the ball to him.

Fabio wants to have the best 23 players he possibly can, whether that is Michael Owen, Jermain Defoe or Wayne Rooney. That's up to him. He feels the four strikers he has at the moment have done well for him."

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

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