Back to his best

Michael Owen proved once and for all he is national treasure with two imperious goals against Russia - and is now just ten short of being crowned England's greatest ever goalscorer.

Owen’s double strike, one measured finish and one flashing volley, have put him on 40 goals in his international career so far – at the tender age of just 27.

His performances for the Three Lions have been so remarkable and so consistent that even the most verbose commentators have run out of superlatives to describe his contribution.

But sometimes statistics tell enough of a story in themselves, and Owen’s stats are remarkable.

His 40 goals have come in 85 matches at a rate of one goal every 2.125 games and leave him only nine behind record holder Sir Bobby Charlton, who hit 49 goals in 106 caps at a rate of one goal every 2.163 games.

Who knows what the Newcastle man’s total would have been by now if he had not suffered several serious injuries, including a broken metatarsal last year and then cruciate knee ligament damage during the World Cup in Germany.

But even those set-backs haven’t been enough to deter a player whose mental strength is almost as remarkable as his finishing.

There are those who say a succession of injuries have left Owen slower and less mobile than in the heady days of his youth when he scored that memorable goal against Argentina in 1998, weaving his way around half the opposition before firing home.

But anyone who saw his performance tonight at Wembley in an amazing 3-0 victory will know he remains one of the most deadly strikers in world football.

In fact, the wonderful thing about Owen now is that he can score all types of goals – goals that he didn’t have in his locker as a lightning-quick teenager.

Many of his recent contributions have been with his head, knocking home crosses from the likes of David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.

But this week he has proved once and for all that he can still excite with something very, very special indeed.

If Saturday’s thumping half-volley against Israel was spectacular, his second against Russia tonight – an unerring, dipping volley from an Emile Heskey knock-down, was every bit as thrilling. And even more important.

Owen had already put England 1-0 up by that stage, expertly controlling a Gareth Barry cross when it fell to him unmarked in the box - and then curling an effort just inside the far post.

And he could have had even more – when he slipped with an open goal in front of him, for instance.

Once again his partnership with Heskey was a key factor in the match, the duo linking up superbly all night before the big man left the field to a standing ovation.

There were so many other positives for England, too - most notably an outstanding performance from Barry in midfield.

Shaun Wright-Phillips proved once again he can produce consistently good football for his country and Paul Robinson shrugged off recent criticism to keep his second clean sheet in a row, making at least two high quality saves in the process.

England's defence also stood firm against top quality opposition, with captain John Terry leading the way, and there wasn't a man on the pitch who didn't play well.

But when it comes to headline makers no-one can better Owen, who even found time to set up England's third goal for Rio Ferdinand.

The Newcastle man is most definitely the jewel in England's crown - and a highly polished one at that.