Experts divided on Michael Owen’s England chances

The 'Michael Owen for England' bandwagon is up and running once again after his hat-trick for Manchester United in Wolfsburg.

But although the commentators agree that the diminutive striker has served notice of his intentions with the goals - they cannot agree on how and where he would fit into the international team.

Matt Hughes in the Times says that Owen's best hope would be to challenge Theo Walcott in the role of attacking utility player.

He believes that the former Liverpool man is too far down the pecking order of out-and-out strikers. He says Fabio Capello sees Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent as his options for second striker — with Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Carlton Cole as his battering rams.

Owen needs to provide options elsewhere on the pitch, like Walcott. Hughes writes: "As fresh-faced youths blessed with electric pace who burst on to the international scene in a blaze of glory, the pair have much in common, but at the moment they are united by a series of niggling injuries and the fear of spending next summer on the sidelines."

Kevin McCarra in the Guardian believes that Owen could still force his way ahead of his rivals up front.

"Owen, in effect, could have to displace Defoe. In some ways, that contest is a mismatch. The Tottenham attacker does not have a comparable knack for assessing defenders and exploiting their weaknesses. He also lacks the wealth of experience at the top level that Owen has amassed," he states.

The Mail, on the other hand, asks a panel of former players if Owen should join England in South Africa - Les Ferdinand, Roger Hunt, David Platt and Tony Cottee all agree that he should. Mark Hateley and Trevor Francis are less convinced. ·