Capello keeps Owen in World Cup exile

Michael Owen’s chances of playing in the World Cup finals suffered another blow on Sunday when coach Fabio Capello snubbed the striker for next month’s qualifier with Croatia.

The 29-year-old Manchester United player, who scored his first competitive goal for the English champions in last week’s Premier League defeat of Wigan, is his country’s fourth-highest goalscorer.

But Capello was not convinced enough by the striker’s form to include him the squad which faces Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday or the Group Six qualifier with Croatia on September 9 where victory would guarantee England’s place in the finals in South Africa.

Capello has instead decided to keep faith with Tottenham star Jermain Defoe, who has been in fine form this season.

Goalkeeper David James misses out for the third squad running after being forced to sit out Portsmouth’s home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

In defence, the absence of Rio Ferdinand with a thigh strain has provided Manchester United teammate Wes Brown with a surprise return.

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Man Utd), Robert Green (West Ham), Paul Robinson (Blackburn)

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Matthew Upson (West Ham), John Terry (Chelsea, capt), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Man City)

Midfielders: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), James Milner (Aston Villa)

Attackers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham).