Owen’s England place secure, insists Eriksson

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON has reassured Michael Owen that his England place is safe - even if he becomes a bit-part player at Real Madrid ahead of the World Cup finals.

Eriksson revealed that Jermain Defoe would be given the chance to play alongside Wayne Rooney in next week’s friendly in Denmark as Owen is suspended for the next World Cup qualifier against Wales in September.

However, Owen will still be involved and appears almost certain to regain his spot against Northern Ireland four days after the Wales game and start the World Cup finals - if England qualify - as the team’s attacking spearhead.