Soccer AM

Ashton: Owen fan

I would take Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey and Carlton Cole. I think at the moment the players that are there deserve their places.

Dean Ashton
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Dean Ashton says Michael Owen would have been in his World Cup squad had he not been ruled out through injury.

The former West Ham and England striker believes Owen's proven track record at major tournaments would have been enough to earn him a place in Fabio Capello's squad this summer.

However, a pulled hamstring in last Sunday's Carling Cup final means the Manchester United frontman will now miss his first major tournament for England, since bursting onto the scene at the 1998 World Cup.

The exceptional form of team-mate Wayne Rooney has seen the 30-year-old's first team opportunities limited this season, but Ashton believes a decent run towards the end of the season may have been enough to earn him a place on the plane to South Africa.

"I would have taken Michael Owen, but he's obviously out now," he said. "I'm sure he's devastated because, without him saying it, he would've believed that if he could get playing again at Manchester United and scoring goals he would have a good chance of going.

"He's proven at World Cups, he can score goals and that's what you need at the highest level."

Strikers

With Owen ruled out for the season, Ashton told Helen and Max which five strikers he thinks are worthy of a place in Capello's squad.

"I would take Rooney, Defoe, Crouch, Heskey and Carlton Cole," he said. "I think at the moment the players that are there deserve their places.

Amongst those who Ashton feels will be turning out for England this summer is his former West Ham team-mate Carlton Cole.

The Hammers' leading goalscorer has come on leaps and bounds in the last two seasons and Ashton was full of praise for him.

He said: "Carlton has always been a great player, he just needed to add a few more goals to his game.

"He's done that now and he's getting the recognition he deserves because he works really hard."

Retirement

The former Crewe and Norwich star, who entered the studio on crutches, announced his retirement from professional football in December, following a long-term ankle problem initially sustained while training with England in August 2006.

Despite undergoing several operations in a bid to overcome the injury, concerns regarding his mobility later in life forced the him to bring his career to a premature end.

The 26-year-old has recently gone under the surgeon's knife again, but he was in good spirits when he took his place on the orange sofas.

"I'm actually alright", he said. "I'll hopefully be off (the crutches) soon and it feels good, and it feels strong and the operation went well.

"The main thing for me is that I haven't been able to train for so long. I haven't done a days training since August and after you've trained for so many years that's quite hard.

"And obviously I've been putting a bit of weight on and I'm like Neville Southall at the moment! I think we've got the same metabolism!"