If it ain’t one thing it’s another. Poor old Michael Owen will miss his chance to impress the England manager in the upcoming friendlies, after going down with a virus!

The injury plagued striker has been used only as a substitute under Fabio Capello’s short reign, but he must have been confident of getting a starting place, given his recent improvement in form at Newcastle.

It’s almost as though the player has been cursed since leaving Liverpool, he really has been a shadow of the player we all loved. It really is a great shame that he will not feature in England’s immediate plans, but it does open the door for Capello to have a look at some of those like Dean Ashton and even Theo Walcott who are knocking on the England door.

Meanwhile I wish Michael Owen a speedy recovery and feel sure he will be in England’s plans for the future.