Owen ready to fire

Michael Owen believes he has lost none of his predatory instincts and is ready to score the goals which can help England qualify for the Euro 2008 Finals.

Owen is ready to spearhead the Three Lions attack again after making a full recovery from a cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the World Cup last summer.

Despite missing the majority of last season, the Newcastle striker has regained his fitness at just the right time for Steve McClaren’s side who face a crucial game against Estonia in Tallinn next Wednesday.

Owen has no doubts he can score goals against any team in the world and cannot wait to get back in the thick of the action when England play their first game back at the new Wembley against Brazil on Friday night.

Owen said: “If you go and do the business, whether it is your first youth game, your first reserve game, your debut or your first England game, then you never lose your self-belief.

“I believe I have a big base of self-belief, bigger than most, and if I am not playing great I still feel I can contribute, and if you give me a chance it does not matter if I have not had a kick because I still feel I have a chance of scoring.

“The hardest thing to do in football is to score goals, and I enjoy that responsibility and I have grown in the national team with it and I would not have it any other way. I feel when you have that responsibility and people expect you to score I grow another couple of inches.

“The burden is the easiest thing for me to handle because mental strength is probably the biggest asset that I have. The more the pressure in the game the better for me. I love the high stakes games.

“The same as if I was playing great. A lot of first experiences I have had have been successful and I know I can draw back on them, and no I don't think I can do it against Brazil or Estonia, I know I can.''

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