Sven said if Owen moves to Manchester United - and links up with his England strike partner Wayne Rooney - it would help the nation's 2006 World Cup cause.

He said: "If he goes to Manchester United I shouldn't complain about that because he would be working with Wayne Rooney every day and that can only make England better.

"Whatever he does, it must be up to him. I know more or less how the situation is so I don't need to speak to him. I haven't spoken to him since the games in America.

"Nobody can doubt the ability of Michael Owen if you are a coach or a manager. You can never take away all the goals he has scored. And he will go on scoring - he's only 25 years old."

Eriksson, who will play Owen in the second half of England's friendly match against Denmark in two weeks' time, believes he is the best finisher currently at Real and if he stays at the Bernabeu he will continue to hold down a regular place in the side.

Eriksson added: "If he stays in Madrid he will play again because he is the best goal-scorer Real Madrid have. He is in the same class as Ronaldo. But I can't deny that if he and Rooney play together it would be a benefit to me and my job."

With 32 senior international goals to his name, Owen is the leading England scorer of the current squad and is naturally a wanted man as his future at Spanish club has been thrown into doubt after recent big-money arrivals at the Spanish club.

Earlier in the day he spoke of his desire to play as much top quality football as possible to ensure he is in the right shape to help England in their World Cup ambitions.

"At the moment, I am preparing myself physically and mentally for the coming season and hopefully the World Cup which follows," Owen said during a break in Spain.

"During my four days off there have been two big signings confirmed by the club and I can understand why this has resulted in speculation about my future.

"Real Madrid contacted my advisers over the weekend and explained that they wanted me to stay but they would not stand in my way if the right opportunity arose for my return to the Premiership.

"With the knowledge of Real Madrid, there have been brief negotiations with three or four Premiership clubs although no formal negotiations of any kind have taken place.

"I am off to Austria with the rest of the squad today to undertake an important 14-day pre-season fitness programme and I don't envisage anything happening during this time.

"When I joined Real Madrid, I was considered by most people to be fourth choice striker and yet I still managed to start 26 games and score 16 goals.

"I am confident that the Real Madrid president, Senor Florentino Perez, will have my best interests at heart whatever happens."