M.Owen
(Liverpool)

J.Beattie
(Southampton)

D.Vassell
(Villa)

F.Jeffers
(Arsenal)

W.Rooney
(Everton)

Age

23

24

22

22

17

Premiership games

25

27

22

11

21

Goals

9

16

6

1

3

Goals per game

0.36

0.59

0.27

0.09

0.14

Assists

3

0

1

1

2

Last goal

363 mins

227 mins

204 mins

91 mins

344 mins

Shots on goal

45

41

29

1

19

Minutes per goal

233

150

280

266

306

Ratio of shots/goal

6.43

11

4.83

-

6.33

International games/goals

44/19

0

9/3

0

0


Michael Owen has been going through a goal drought for Liverpool of late and has gone longer without a goal than any of the other strikers. However, his goals per game rate for his club is second only to James Beattie, who has enjoyed an amazing season with Southampton hitting 16 goals earning him the reputation of England's form striker.

Michael has had more shots and assists than the other five, proving that, though he may not be having the luck, he's still not frightened to have a go. And we all know how prolific he is for the Three Lions with his 19 goals in 44 games.

Darius Vassell is third highest scorer on the list and his goals per game ratio falls just short of Owen's, however he is a favourite of Sven's since scoring on his debut in Holland and has gone on to hit three in nine for his country.

However, to fully assess how England's forwards have been performing this season, their scoring stats must be compared against the best in the country, the Premiership's current top scorer Thierry Henry and former England captain Alan Shearer, who until a few weeks ago was the number one marksman in the League:

 

T.Henry
(Arsenal)

A.Shearer
(Newcastle)

Age

25

32

Premiership games

27

25

Goals

18

14

Goals per game

0.68

0.58

Assists

10

4

Last goal

199 mins

285 mins



Sven has hinted that he'll select his strongest eleven to start this evening, but will opt for a completely different line-up consisting mainly of his youngest Lions, so maybe they will all get an opportunity to show their Premiership ability on the international stage. Log on to TheFA.com later today for first news of the side to kick off against the Socceroos...

Richard Morgan

*All figures relate to the Premiership only.