Steven Gerrard is adamant that Michael Owen has an England future if he secures the right move this summer.
Owen’s stock has this season plummeted to new depths for both club and country and, as such, he looks certain to move away from relegated Newcastle.
Little more than two years ago the former Liverpool man looked odds on to surpass Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time England scoring record but has since dropped off the radar under Fabio Capello.
The Italian’s penchant for just a solitary ‘big man’ up front looks to have seen the back of Owen but Gerrard is convinced his former team-mate does have a future for his country.
"I do believe he can play for his country again,” said the Reds skipper. “He's suffered a lot in the last couple of years with injuries but a fit Michael Owen has the ability to be involved in this squad for sure.
“I've not spoken to him that much of late but I'm sure, knowing Michael as long as I have, he will be desperate to get back playing football again, staying fit and scoring goals.
“If I was a scout or a manager I would be giving Michael a ring. I would love to see him get a move from Newcastle to a big club.”
Many of Wednesday’s newspapers took Gerrard’s quotes to be a plea for Rafa Benitez to sign the diminutive striker but the England midfielder conceded nothing more than a desire to see the arrival at Anfield of more players of the calibre of Fernando Torres.
"The next step is to bring in more players on Torres' level," said Gerrard. "Torres is a massive player for us. You saw the impact he made in his first season for us and how good he's been when he's been fit this year.
“If we can keep Torres fit and add a bit more quality into our squad, we feel as if we can become champions.
“You can talk about what might have happened had Fernando and I been fit all season but it's all ifs and buts. Unfortunately we weren't fit all season and we never had enough to come first.”