So said Michael Owen in the wake of the first-half double that helped England ease to a 3-0 win over Russia at Wembley in September last year.

His near flippant tone when speaking to those of us from the written press who were gathered around the Newcastle striker deep in the bowels of Wembley that Wednesday night was understandable. The topic of eclipsing Sir Bobby Charlton's long-standing record of 49 goals in international football had become such a familiar one in those post-match huddles that even the journalists covering the national team had run out of different ways to ask the same question.

Few things in football can be taken as a certainty, but Owen assuming the mantle of England's all-time top goalscorer seemed to be just that. It was a case of when, not if, it happened.

A year on, however, and things have changed dramatically with the 28-year-old's international career having stalled after being left out of two consecutive squads by Fabio Capello.

Dropped to the bench for the Italian's bow in charge of the Three Lions last February, Owen was overlooked completely for last month's double-header against Andorra and Croatia.

Capello attempted to explain that omission with a reference to the player's fitness after returning from injury, but since then Owen has been ever-present for Newcastle. Not only that, he has scored three goals in five games and there were suggestions before Sunday's squad announcement that the striker's form in a side low on confidence would be sufficient to earn a recall.

His subsequent omission from Capello's 23-man squad to face Kazakhstan and Belarus together with the inclusion of Peter Crouch has left many in the game wondering whether Owen will ever have the chance to add to his tally of 40 goals in a Three Lions shirt.

England goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence is one of those who is convinced that the former Liverpool striker can force his way back into the international reckoning – once Newcastle's woes have been brought to an end.

He said: "Newcastle need somebody to steady the ship. I am sure Joe Kinnear will do a good job in the time that he is there, but they need somebody long term so the players and the fans know where the club is going.

"Until that happens it is difficult for the team to perform consistently week-in, week-out on the pitch. Michael has a strong belief in his own ability but you can only finish the chances that are created for you.

"He has the ability to score goals off his own bat, but a lot are from inside the box from people delivering the ball to him. Fabio wants to have the best 23 players he possibly can, whether that is Michael Owen, Jermain Defoe or Wayne Rooney. That is up to him.

"He feels the four strikers he has at the moment have done well for him."

It will be an irony not lost on fans of Liverpool and Newcastle, both having long suspected Owen of putting country before club, that his international prospects now rest on how he performs in the domestic game.

And with the descent into near farce at St James' Park showing no sign of easing any time soon, the danger is more frustration for England's fourth highest goalscorer of all-time.

It should, however, be noted that Capello has never been too proud to bring a discarded player back if his form warrants inclusion.

David Beckham's final season at Real Madrid is a perfect illustration of this with the Italian having told the LA Galaxy-bound midfielder in January last year that he would not play for the club again. Beckham refused to accept his fate and after impressing in training, he was recalled and went on to play a major part in the club's La Liga triumph.

Owen must now hope to win a similar reprieve.


ENGLAND'S TOP GOALSCORERS


Bobby Charlton 49

Gary Lineker 48

Jimmy Greaves 44

Michael Owen 40

Tom Finney 30

Nat Lofthouse 30

Alan Shearer 30