Owen fears 'plastic pitch' injuries

Michael Owen has admitted he fears a repeat of his injury nightmare when England take on Russia on an artificial pitch in October.

Steve McClaren’s men have five games left to salvage their unconvincing Euro 2008 qualifying campaign – with this autumn’s trip to Moscow the only one to be played away from the rebuilt Wembley Stadium.

That match is set to take place on an artificial pitch after the Russian authorities pencilled in the October 17 clash for Torpedo Moscow’s 84,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium.

Owen is sure his team-mates will be able to cope with the unusual conditions, but has voiced concerns over his increased personal risk of injury.

The Newcastle striker spent all but the last three games of 2006-07 out of action after he damaged his anterior cruciate ligament on World Cup duty last summer.

And Owen fears a recurrence on what is likely to be an unyielding surface in Moscow.

“I hope my knee holds up to an artificial pitch,” he told Sky Sports News. “Most people that have done their knee in the past say stay away from them.

“We use artificial pitches and everyone is used to them, it’s just if you get tackled and hit the ground funny it might hurt a bit.”

Owen has also backed England to draw on home comforts and qualify for next summer’s showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.

McClaren’s side currently lie in fourth place in Group D, three points shy of a qualification berth after a mixed campaign which has included a defeat in Croatia and uninspiring draws with Israel and Macedonia.

But England have still to face their main group rivals at Wembley, and Owen - who returned from a serious knee injury to play in his country’s last two matches with Brazil and Estonia – is sure that will prove decisive when matters are decided in November.

Asked whether England would make it to Austria and Switzerland, Owen insisted: “I am confident.

“Obviously we had a tricky few games and didn’t get the results we wanted.

“I’ve only been in the squad for the last two games so I’ve been watching everything from afar, but morale and team spirit among the lads and staff is fantastic, like it’s always been. There’s no problems there.

“We’ve got a new stadium and it feels great, (you feel) almost invincible before you go out there, it’s fantastic when you get all the supporters behind you.

“We’ve got four teams to play at home and none of them will find it easy taking points off us.

“If we win our home games, I’m sure we’ll be there.”