Michael Owen was omitted from coach Fabio Capello’s England squad while fellow striker Peter Crouch was recalled for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.

Capello overlooked Owen despite his five goals this season after expressing reservations about the Newcastle striker’s confidence amid the club’s woes.

The 28-year-old Owen burst onto the international scene at the 1998 World Cup, but now faces an uncertain England future.

“It is not enough only to score goals,” Capello said. “It is not a good moment for Newcastle. Sometimes a lot of the results of the club for which a player plays are not good for the confidence.”

Another victim of his club’s woes is last-place Tottenham’s David Bentley, who has been seen as David Beckham’s natural successor on the right wing.

Capello, however, chose to stick with the 33-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder.

“I have to decide on 23 players,” Capello said.

“I do not decide out of sympathy or because I like or dislike players. I decide on who I think is the best player at the moment. You can play better if all the team play well. There are three players at Tottenham who are interesting for us but it is not a good moment for them.”

But Shaun Wright-Phillips’ transfer to Manchester City from Chelsea has also revitalised his England career, with the winger earning a recall.

Midfielder Joe Cole was left out after limping out of Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday but Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard returns after missing the victories over Andorra and Croatia due to injury.

West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson replaced the injured Paul Robinson.

England hosts Kazakhstan on Saturday and is at Belarus four days later.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham), Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion).

Defenders: Joleon Lescott (Everton), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Matthew Upson (West Ham).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham).

Strikers: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Wigan), Peter Crouch (Portsmouth).

© AP 2012

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