Alan Pattullo: Trick for Michael Owen is convincing Fabio Capello

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 23:11

FABIO Capello is not the type to be press-ganged into something. Instead, he seems more likely to resist whatever is demanded of him by an orchestrated campaign.

News of Michael Owen's hat-trick for Manchester United in Germany on Tuesday night – perhaps tellingly, the England manager was not present – probably elicited little more than an arch of the eyebrow on the Italian's features. Of course, he would have known what was coming.

Capello has so far shown little inclination to include Owen in his World Cup plans, even going so far as to describe the constant nagging of an English-media obsessed with the striker as his "torment" during a visit to his homeland. Hampering Owen's bid, and frustrating many among his acolytes among the media, is Capello's lack of concern for what has gone before. He owes Owen nothing, and has not picked him since a friendly against France last year. He had little need to defend himself as Owen struggled at Newcastle United. The form of England, who qualified for South Africa at a canter, was a powerful argument for keeping things as they were, even following Owen's surprise summer move to the country's top club side.

Capello's detachment from the English Premier League in the years when Owen was in his prime – he had more pressing issues at the likes of Real Madrid – means he won't be swayed by hazy images of the striker scoring goal after goal for Liverpool. Unlike someone such as Steve McClaren, Capello is not in thrall to the Owen legend. The Italian would not have found it hard to ignore David Beckham's claim either. Beckham, however, has impressed on the pitch, and remains in the shape he was a decade ago.

Owen still has much to do in order to prove himself, both in terms of fitness and consistent performances. His fate, therefore, rests not in the hands of an Italian, but rather a Scot. Sir Alex Ferguson, his manager at Manchester United, holds the key, with Owen required to be promoted from his current status as auxiliary striker at Old Trafford, with duties no more onerous than coming onto seal victories against the likes of Stoke City.

Capello has acknowledged Owen's existence, and invited him along to England's qualification celebration in October. But another 54 names were on that guest-list, including the likes of Joe Lewis of Peterborough United and Middlesbrough's David Wheater. It was the equivalent of a cattle-run of players. Even if Owen did glean some hope from this, it was surely extinguished again by his exclusion from the injury-hit squad which travelled to Doha for the friendly with Brazil last month. Almost midway through the season of a World Cup, nobody would have interpreted their exclusion from this patchwork England side as a sign that it might be wise to hold-off from booking that fortnight in Torremolinos in June. As he himself complained: "It's not like I have dropped down a step, but fallen off the map." Another, undoubtedly valid, lament heard from Owen is based on the impression some have that he might be past it. "People think I'm past my 30s, I'm in my 40s, the way they talk about me," he stated recently. He turns 30 next month.

While noting Capello's stubborn streak, there remains a suspicion that Owen is destined to add some fresh episodes to his World Cup narrative, one which began when he was 17. There were some reminders of how he slalomed past the Argentina defence in St Etienne 12 years ago in the manner in which he completed his hat-trick on Tuesday. It was a goal that had its source in Owen's pace, with the striker starting his run inside his own half.

While some described Owen's three goals as "timely", the danger is that they have come too late. The manager has appeared intent on including just four strikers in his squad of 23 for South Africa. At present these slots, barring injury, are filled by Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Jermaine Defoe and Emile Heskey.

Owen, who did not mention England during his post-match comments on Tuesday, is likely to continue offering the impression that he is unconcerned by the debate over whether or not he should be taken to his fourth World Cup. He will acknowledge, too, that establishing himself at Manchester United is his first priority. He has not even managed this yet, although, it could yet happen.

Much depends on whether Owen has the chance to build on this springboard. The fastidious Capello will not revise his thinking just six months before the finals. But Owen would give him something to think about should he manage to keep playing, keep scoring and – perhaps most importantly – keep fit. If so, the Boy Wonder of 1998 could yet be reborn as the Comeback Kid.