Owen okay despite injury concern
(Soccer365.com) - Owen underwent a precautionary scan after reporting he had a "tight thigh" in training on Monday.
Owen underwent a precautionary scan after reporting he had a "tight thigh" in training on Monday.
The results were all-clear and England's senior striker should be available to lead the line against the Hungarians at Old Trafford.
Owen's fitness is a huge relief for an England team still uncertain about Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's participation in the World Cup finals.
Rooney's next scan on his broken foot has been brought forward seven days to June 7 at Eriksson's request.
The Swede wants an update on how the injury is mending before June 9 - the final deadline for him to replace injured players in his squad.
Eriksson remains upbeat about Rooney's chances of playing some part in the World Cup finals but an injury to Owen would be a devastating blow.
The Newcastle striker has only played 90 minutes of football since breaking his foot on New Year's Eve.
He came through 60 minutes of a B international against Belarus last week and was hoping to play a full 90 game against Hungary tomorrow or Jamaica on Saturday.
Eriksson said the team which starts at Old Trafford tomorrow is likely to be the one which starts against Paraguay in the World Cup opener on June 10.
The England boss may play Owen as a lone striker, backed by five midfielders, which would represent a U-turn on his World Cup plans.
Eriksson said: "When we start tomorrow it will be the team we think might start against Paraguay.
"We could start with Crouch and Owen and we could start in another way as well."
This is a drastic change from May 8, when Eriksson said: "If I had to do it today I think I would start with Peter Crouch and Michael Owen if he is match-fit.
"That would be the natural choice and playing the four best midfielders."
The last time Eriksson tampered with his 4-4-2 system was in the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in September.
England lost 1-0 in Belfast, playing David Beckham as a deep-lying central-midfielder, alongside Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Shaun Wright-Phillips and Rooney played either side of Owen in attack.
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