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Michael Owen's chances of playing in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ finals suffered another blow when coach Fabio Capello omitted the striker for next week's qualifier with Croatia.
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The 29-year-old Manchester United player, who scored his first competitive goal for the English champions in last week's defeat of Wigan Athletic, is his country's fourth-highest goalscorer.
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But Capello was not convinced enough by the striker's form to include him in the squad which faces Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday before the Group 6 qualifier with Croatia on 9 September where victory would guarantee England's place at South Africa 2010.
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Capello has instead decided to keep faith with Tottenham Hotspur talent Jermain Defoe, who has been in fine form this season.
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Goalkeeper David James misses out for the third squad running after being forced to sit out Portsmouth's home defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.
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In defence, the absence of Rio Ferdinand with a thigh strain has provided Manchester United team-mate Wes Brown with a surprise return.
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England squad
Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), John Terry (Chelsea, capt), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Manchester City)
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Midfielders: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy/USA), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), James Milner (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur)
Thats for fun
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