Michael Owen could still play for England - Sir Alex Ferguson

[emezico]

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Michael Owen could still have a role to play for England.

Owen, now 31, may be given the chance to reinforce his claims for club and country when United face Swiss club Basle in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

His two-goal master-class against Leeds in the ­Carling Cup last Tuesday has already convinced Ferguson that he remains a potent threat at the highest level of the game.

Ferguson said: "Put it this way, if you need a goal out of ­nothing, there's nobody better in the game.

"Michael Owen has that gift where he can appear in the box from nowhere.

"He's not got that burst of pace he had as a younger ­person, you always lose pace.

"But Michael has the ­positional sense – it's brilliant. He has the awareness around the box and the ability to make runs at the right time and get across the ­defender.