Capello banks on Rooney to regain touch

FABIO CAPELLO has urged Wayne Rooney to regain his goalscoring touch as the England head coach defended his decision to leave out Michael Owen for the World Cup qualifiers with Andorra and Croatia.

Capello opted not to select Owen, despite his scoring record of 40 goals in 89 internationals, after watching him in action for Newcastle against Arsenal last weekend.

Now he is hoping that Rooney, without an international goal since scoring against Russia 11 months ago, can fill the breach, starting against the minnows of Andorra in Barcelona today.