Michael Owen was pleased to come through an hour of England B's 2-1 defeat at the hands of Belarus on Thursday night.

Owen, who captained the side, suffered a broken metatarsal injury against Tottenham in December and has played just 30 minutes of club football in 2006 for Newcastle.

But he is building up his fitness for the World Cup and looked sharp in the defeat at The Madejski Stadium.

"I felt fine, the foot felt fine," said Owen on Sky Sports.

"I thought we were quite sharp in the first half, the wide men played well going forward.

"We were quite sloppy in the second half, giving them that (first) goal gave them impetus.

"It's disappointing to lose, but there you are."

Owen insists he was "never worried" about his fitness and stressed he was feeling good during the match.

"I feel sharp. I'm pleased I played 60 minutes and it's onwards and upwards now."

Asked about Theo Walcott, who had a half-hour run-out, Owen said: "I haven't played alongside him yet but in training you try to get to know him, know what his strengths and weaknesses are.

"It's his first introduction into the squad and was only a 'B' game but it will have felt like a full international to him."

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