Int Football - Owen and Jenas pull out

Eurosport - Fri, 23 May 23:40:00 2008

Michael Owen and Jermaine Jenas are set to miss England's international friendlies against the USA and Trinidad and Tobago next week.

FOOTBALL 2007 England Michael Owen - 0

Newcastle striker Owen has succumbed to a virus while Tottenham midfielder Jenas is suffering from an ankle injury and both failed to report for training on Friday.

Fabio Capello's side face the USA at Wembley on Wednesday before jetting to the West Indies to play in Port of Spain the following Sunday.

Owen's absence will open the door to a number of other England hopefuls, with Arsenal's Theo Walcott, West Ham's Dean Ashton, Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe all vying with Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch for a starting berth.

A statement on the FA's website confirmed read: "Ahead of England's friendlies against USA and Trinidad and Tobago, the England squad has seen two changes.

"Michael Owen was unable to report due to an infectious virus and is expected to be out for both games, while Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas reported with an ankle injury and has returned home.

"The nine players from Manchester United and Chelsea who were involved in the Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday evening, will report for England on Saturday.

"David Beckham will report on Sunday, after LA Galaxy's game with Kansas City on Saturday."

Mike Hytner / Eurosport