Owen injury hampers England’s World Cup chances

The above pic (but in reverse) would have been a welcome sight for England fans as the World Cup draws ever closer. Wayne Rooney, the single most important factor in England’s challenge (despite what that dickhead Tony Cascarino says) has made it through another game, with Michael Owen seeing it out.

Or even better, as with the League Cup final, Rooney is rested and starts on the bench.

No more. Michael Owen has been ruled out until the end of the season, increasing the already intense burden on Wayne’s fat shoulders. Ferguson is now down to Rooney and Berbatov as genuine first team players.

He has some back up – Macheda is due to return imminently from injury, Mame Diouf is (apparently) promising, and Fergie could easily recall Danny Welbeck from Preston (although still unconvinced about him).

But without Owen, Ferguson’s options are undoubtedly reduced, proportionally increasing Rooney’s game time – and risk factor. If he gets injured, even the pipe dream can be extinguished.

Owen’s injury has, indirectly, affected our World Cup chances – though probably not as England’s fourth all time goalscorer would have wished.