Back in June 2003, the striker led from the front in the absence of David Beckham with both goals in a 2-1 win against Slovakia in a vital European Championship qualifier.

On that occasion the skipper's armband brought good fortune for Owen and it was almost as if the 24-year-old was convinced it would be a similar story in Baku.

The former Liverpool star has endured a frustrating start to the season with new club Real Madrid with a squad full of Galacticos preventing him from regular first-team football.

And he had not scored an international goal in his previous three games - even having a deflected effort taken away from him against Wales on Saturday when FIFA awarded the honour to team-mate Frank Lampard.

But, as everybody knows, Owen can never be written off and his winner in the atrocious conditions of the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium was the perfect lift for both player and team.

It handed the Three Lions a hard-fought victory that cements our place at the top of Group 6 in the race to qualify for the World Cup finals in 2006. And surely after this no-one will question Owen's international credentials again?

Azerbaijan were determined not to be overawed and looked dangerous in the opening stages before Ashley Cole's cross was tucked away with a clinical header to ease the England nerves.

And the strike also rewarded Sven-Goran Eriksson for his determination to continue with a three-man attack away from home after the system worked so well against Wales.

Wayne Rooney again threatened when picking the ball up in deep areas and Jermain Defoe pulled defenders wide with a number of good runs, although the clear-cut scoring chances failed to come his way before he was replaced by Alan Smith early in the second-half.

Eriksson will also be impressed with Jermaine Jenas who was selected ahead of Owen Hargreaves and Shaun Wright-Phillips with Beckham suspended.

The choice was somewhat of a surprise, but the 21-year-old looked more than comfortable at this level after increasingly impressive performances with Newcastle in the Premiership.

But England's strength in depth was highlighted when Wright-Phillips came on for Jenas with 20 minutes to go and also looked neat and tidy.

The final minutes proved nail-biting with Azerbaijan still threatening an upset after restricting England any further goals, but Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand refused to allow the home side any clear sights on Paul Robinson's goal.

The referee's whistle was therefore something of a relief, and no-one would suggest this was one of England's most exciting performances.

But the result is what matters and it leaves England on top of Group 6 as the World Cup qualification goes into hibernation over the winter.

Head Coach Eriksson knows the most vital moment to be in pole position is following the final fixture in October 2005. But with Owen up front - and back in form - it's certainly looking good.