MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 04:45:52| >> :120:59973:59973:

Michael Owen remains open to England

Owen remains open to England
© PA Photos
Stoke City striker Michael Owen insists that he still wants to represent England.

Stoke City striker Michael Owen has reiterated a desire to play for England.

The 32-year-old, who has scored 40 goals for the Three Lions, has not played for his country since 2008.

However, the former Manchester United forward has insisted that he is open to the idea of returning to international football.

"Some people think I've retired from [international] football full stop. No, I'd never do that really," he told BBC Sport.

"I have to perform well for my club and if I do that there might be an outside chance of getting back. I don't go to bed thinking of playing for England again. It would be a bonus, but I need to get back on pitch and rediscover my goalscoring touch.

"It ain't easy playing for England. The pressure, the time away from families, tournaments. You're sat in your hotel room staring at four white walls. It's a long stint and mentally draining.

"It's a very intense feeling playing for your country. I don't think people express themselves as well as they do at club level. At that level you feel loved, the fans are on side, you're playing week in week out. There's certainly a bit of fear."

England face San Marino in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on Friday.

ID:49378: cacheID:49378:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2094:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Gerrard, Maurice Edu
Read Next:
Gerrard questions Owen's United decision
>
Read more about Michael Owen Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1711422491535
2Burnley179622161533
3Sunderland1796226121433
4Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
5Watford179262624229
6Middlesbrough1683529191027
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom176921811727
8Millwall166641914524
9Norwich CityNorwich175753125622
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
11Bristol City175752021-122
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds176472026-622
13Stoke CityStoke175661920-121
14Derby CountyDerby165562020020
15Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry174582225-317
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd174581927-817
19Preston North EndPreston173861624-817
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth174581834-1617
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City173681623-715
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!