Sport 06-10-2004 Owen Digs His Heels In who: Michael Owen what: Insists he is still the man to lead England`s attack after lukewarm start in Madrid when: Yesterday snippet: It hasn`t been a good week for Michael Owen; awarded "nought out of 10" by the Spanish press after Real Madrid`s defeat by Deportivo La Coruna last Sunday, he faces this weekend`s international match against Wales with his England career "on the line". At least, that`s what The Mirror thinks. Owen himself has no doubt he will come through. "I`m not a quitter, I`m still hungry and I will fight to the death," he told reporters yesterday after reporting for England duty. . "I know what values I can bring to the team. I have scored a constant stream of goals throughout my career. I`ve not regretted my move to Madrid for a minute," he added. "I didn`t go into it with blinkers. It was a new country, new challenge and new language." Confident or not, points out The Telegraph, Owen will have to overcome a hamstring injury that is connected to a soreness in his back "which will dictate whether Eriksson has to even consider dropping the squad`s highest goalscorer." The Guardian agrees that it would be a major surprise if a fit Owen was dropped in favour of Tottenham hotshot Jermain Defoe. "Even without the striker`s own reminders," writes Kevin McCarra, "people would have begun to ponder his impressive return of 27 goals from 63 appearances." Poor form, injury and doubts have not precluded Owen`s inclusion in the shortlist for FIFA`s World Player of the Year award, although almost every paper is trumpeting the inclusion of a certain Wayne Rooney. The Manchester United youngster is expected to start for England on Saturday but, against "34 other world stars including Thierry Henry," not to win the award. Not yet, anyway. [... more]

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