Owen proves ready for England call

Michael Owen failed to score but completed another 90 minutes of his comeback from injury as he helped England B beat Albania 3-1 yesterday.

Owen had previously played just three games for Newcastle since sustaining a serious knee injury on England duty in last year's World Cup finals in Germany.

But with the 27-year-old striker further improving his match fitness following surgery he is all set to be included in the senior squad coach Steve McClaren names today for next week's friendly against Brazil and England's European Championship qualifying tie in Estonia on June 6.

Owen missed a chance to claim his first goal since scoring against Jamaica in a friendly last June when he shot wide from an early Aaron Lennon pass.

He failed to take one further opportunity but England won comfortably thanks to two goals from Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, the second made by Owen, after Manchester United's Alan Smith had opened the scoring.

Both players are also likely to be selected by McClaren, who may also have been impressed by uncapped Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley, who could challenge David Beckham for a place in the squad.