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Football: Capello ignores Owen for Dutch clash

  • Story Highlights
  • Michael Owen fails to win recall to England squad for friendly international
  • England coach ignores his claims for match against the Netherlands
  • Fellow striker Peter Crouch is also left out as well as goalkeeper David James
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(CNN) -- Michael Owen has failed to win an international recall with England coach Fabio Capello ignoring his claims for next Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands.

Owen is hoping for an England recall after joining Manchester United.

Owen is hoping for an England recall after joining Manchester United.

Owen has enjoyed an excellent pre-season with new club Manchester United, leading to hopes he could feature for the first time since a friendly defeat to France in Paris 18 months ago.

But Capello watched Owen miss four good chances in United's 2-0 friendly win over Valencia at Old Trafford on Wednesday and decided against giving the former Liverpool star, who is England's fourth highest all-time goal scorer, a trip to Amsterdam for a prestige friendly.

After the Valencia win, United manager Alex Ferguson predicted that Owen would struggle to win an immediate recall.

"Fabio has got to pick the best players for England and he's not going to pick someone on his reputation from eight years ago," Ferguson told the Press Association.

"Michael's name and reputation alone will not get him into next year's World Cup squad.

"It's what he does with us over the next season that will, hopefully, get him into the England squad for South Africa."

Owen's United teammate Wayne Rooney is joined by Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole to form a four-strong striking contingent, meaning no place for new Tottenham signing Peter Crouch.

Last season's first choice goalkeeper David James is also left on the sidelines as he battles to recover from a knee injury after having shoulder surgery which caused him to miss World Cup wins against Kazakhstan and Andorra.

Capello will use the friendly to look at Ben Foster, Robert Green and Paul Robinson.

David Beckham is included and will make the flight back from Los Angeles in order to take part, while Aston Villa winger James Milner gets a place in the squad.

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