21 August 2007
VIDEO: Steve McClaren press conference
Steve McClaren talks to the media in the build up to England's first match of the new season, against Germany at Wembley.

England

v

Germany

 

 

 

International Friendly
8pm, Wednesday 22 August 2007
Wembley Stadium

Steve McClaren is relishing the chance to see Michael Owen back in the England attack and knows he could play a major role in helping the Three Lions qualify for the European Championship Finals next summer.

Owen has finally recovered from a knee ligament injury which forced him to miss the majority of last season.

The prolific forward made a timely return to the England squad for the last qualifier against Estonia back in June and wasted no time getting his name on the scoresheet.

Owen is set to start in the friendly game against Germany and get some more match action under his belt before England face Israel and Russia next month.

One of Owen’s finest moments in an England shirt came against Germany back in 2001 when he scored a hat-trick during the 5-1 victory in Munich and McClaren knows he is capable of scoring against any team in the world.

McClaren said: “Michael is a big player for us. It was great to have him back in the summer and he proved it. His enthusiasm, attitude and work-rate was great and he looked sharper than he did before.

“Unfortunately he suffered a little niggle, but we will be looking to give him more match practice in preparation for the game in three weeks.

“He is a genuine world class goalscorer and every team needs one. We have got Michael and hopefully he will be in even better condition when we play Israel.”

Although McClaren is using the game against Germany as a stepping stone for the Israel and Russia games in September, the England boss knows it is an opportunity for some of the fringe players to stake their claim for a place in the side.

Manchester City defender Micah Richards has been one of the star performers in the Premiership at the start of the season and knows he can mount a serious challenge to Gary Neville for the right back position if he performs well at Wembley.

McClaren added: “We have got a very important game against Germany. There will be 90,000 people in the stadium and 8 million watching on television.

“That is some friendly and it is an important game for England in preparation for the games against Israel and Russia. This is an opportunity for the players to show what they can do.

“There are opportunities for players and the biggest example I can give is Micah Richards where he came from no-where and was given an opportunity against Holland.

“It was a great debut and he has gone on from there. People are raving about him and quite rightly because of his performances. One man’s injury is another one’s opportunity and that is what we are telling the players.”

David Beckham is also expected to start the game after recovering from an ankle injury and McClaren says he will have no hesitation in picking him to play despite his journey from Los Angeles at the weekend.

He said: “He looked very good in training. I don’t see how rest can benefit him and he needs to play because he has not been out there for a while.

“It is important he joins up with us and gets together with the team. He wanted to do that and has a big passion playing for England. We saw that in the summer and we are delighted to have him involved with us.

“He is just returning from an ankle injury and he needs minutes on the field. He is in a similar position to Michael Owen and if we can give them that, it will benefit us in three weeks time against Israel.”