Keegan questions Capello's selection policy over Owen
Michael Owen has not started for England under Fabio Capello
Monday, 31, Mar 2008 09:11
Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan has claimed England boss Fabio Capello "needs asking" why he is not picking Michael Owen for the national side.
Owen scored for the third game in succession as the Magpies continued their recent resurgence with a second win in just over a week - a 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Keegan's misfiring side are gaining confidence by the day after taking two months to record their first three-point haul since his return.
And the Toon coach has questioned Capello's decision to leave Owen on the bench in England's friendly defeat to France in midweek.
"Capello needs asking why he hasn't played Michael because only he knows the answer," Keegan said.
"You've seen Michael again [against Spurs] and one thing's for sure - when the big games come Michael Owen will play.
"People knock him, but it doesn't bother him. He just gets on with it.
"I can relate to that because I've had a bit of it and he's answering people on the football pitch, which is the only way."
Owen came on in the second half in Paris but failed to inspire a timid England as they suffered a 1-0 loss, thanks to Franck Ribery's first-half penalty.
It was the Italian manager's first defeat in his second game as national coach, after recording a 2-1 win over Euro 2008 co-hosts Switzerland in his first match at Wembley in February.