Owen out as England’s headaches mount

ENGLAND have been set the daunting challenge of proving that the crocked Michael Owen is replaceable for tomorrow’s vital Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's worst fears were confirmed when, just before the squad departed for Istanbul, Owen was ruled out with the leg injury sustained against Arsenal at Anfield on Saturday.

Eriksson was already bracing himself for the worst-case scenario by calling up Aston Villa's Darius Vassell the nearest England have to an Owen clone in terms of sheer pace after consulting with the player and the England medical staff on Tuesday.