Premiership: Fab ready for 'spectacular' Owen

Derby striker Fabrizio Ravanelli comes face to face with Michael Owen tomorrow, declaring: ‘‘He is one of the best players in the world.’’

Ravanelli marked his debut for Middlesbrough five years ago with a hat-trick against the men from Anfield.

In 1996 Owen was coming through the ranks and helping Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup.

Since then he has become a regular for club and country, dodgy hamstrings permitting, and goes into tomorrow’s clash with 18 goals already to his credit this season.

Ravanelli, for his part, left Middlesbrough in 1997 for Marseille and then Lazio before arriving at Derby last summer.

He said: ‘‘Owen is having a spectacular year. I think he is one of the best players in the world.

‘‘He is very strong and can change the match around. He is going to be a constant danger, and we will have to keep a close eye on him.

‘‘We are playing against a team that not only has Owen but other great players.

‘‘I think it is going to be very difficult to score three goals against them because they are a strong squad. If I score one that will be a great success.’’

Estonia goalkeeper Mart Poom is also relishing the challenge of squaring up to Owen.

‘‘I look forward to big games like this,’’ he said.

‘‘Owen is the golden boy of English football along with David Beckham.

‘‘Owen scores very good goals - and Emile Heskey is a good partner for him, big strong and more of a target man.

‘‘I prepare thoroughly for whoever we are playing, but all our work this week has been geared to what Liverpool will do.’’

Ravanelli, who is expected to be named captain tomorrow because Craig Burley is injured, believes Liverpool have what it takes now to make a real title challenge.

‘‘They are a team that will be in contention for the Premiership,’’ he said.

‘‘They have their own style of play and they are becoming stronger every week.

‘‘For us it would be a great success if we beat Liverpool. In English football you can never say never.

‘‘We know we are going to face one of the top teams and we are at a disadvantage - but we will play all our cards with the hope of winning the match.’’

Derby have chalked up only two league wins this season, but manager Colin Todd remains confident of getting something from the game.

‘‘No one gave us a chance against Chelsea, yet we surprised a lot of people. We came out with a point, and it could have been more than that,’’ he said.

‘‘Liverpool have done remarkably well. Last season they had good cup runs. This season they are stringing it together in the league.

‘‘It is a big challenge for all of us. I would like to think if we got our noses in front we could keep a clean sheet.

‘‘There is no need for the team to show any fear. They are in the Premiership and have to handle what comes their way.’’