Soccer: Owen's lack of practice increases injury problems

Sven Goran Eriksson announces his provisional England World Cup squad today with the fitness of Michael Owen a serious concern.

The Newcastle United striker was not even named among his club's 16 for their final match of the season against Chelsea and now goes into the build-up for the competition having played 30 minutes of football since New Year's Day.

From a squad, and a first XI, that picked itself six months ago, Eriksson now has more problems than he could have imagined.

The fifth metatarsal of his right foot is Owen's problem and it is the fourth metatarsal of Ledley King's left foot that is causing the Tottenham captain such worries.

At Upton Park yesterday he was walking with the aid of crutches.

Like Wayne Rooney, King and Owen are both certain to be included in the provisional squad that Eriksson announces this afternoon at London's Cafe Royal.

The 23-man squad will be named by the England manager with an estimated four reserves who will be on stand-by until next week, when the final squad is named.

Players who are injured after that date can be changed up until 9 June.

There is a big decision for Eriksson to make on whether he takes Shaun Wright-Phillips or Aaron Lennon, the 19-year-old at Tottenham who has had such an impressive six months.

The indications last night were that Lennon could expect to be among the four reserves at best, with Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing likely to have a stronger chance.

In midfield Eriksson also has what appears to be a straight choice between Jermaine Jenas and Owen Hargreaves, with the Tottenham man the favourite to get the place despite his recent shin problem.

Hargreaves' versatility should be enough to earn him a place among the reserves as cover in the holding midfield position for Michael Carrick.

The Tottenham midfielder did not train last week with a calf problem that is another lingering worry.

Carrick's problem is not considered a serious threat to his World Cup chances but it does pose the question of what England would do should they switch to a diamond formation and then find their two holding midfielders - King and Carrick - injured.

Another concern for Eriksson is the fitness of Robert Green, the Norwich goalkeeper who has not played since 8 April with an ankle problem.

While the England manager has been given assurances that Green will be fit, he is likely to call the Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson - who finished the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday - as one of his reserves.

One of the small pieces of good news for Eriksson yesterday was Ashley Cole's first start at Highbury since October and the left-back appeared to have recovered from the thigh problems that followed his broken metatarsal injury in October.

The last reserve place is likely to go to Phil Neville, whose versatility will give Eriksson's options at full-back and in midfield.

- INDEPENDENT