Owen primed and ready for Paraguay, says Eriksson

MANCHESTER, England, June 4: Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Michael Owen will top his goalscoring display against Jamaica by doing even better in Saturday's World Cup opener with Paraguay.

Owen, who has made a slow recovery from a broken foot suffered on Dec. 31, reached two important milestones in yesterday's 6-0 victory at Old Trafford.

He scored his first goal of 2006 with a classic run through Jamaica's offside trap before rounding the keeper, and played his first full 90 minutes of the year.

Owen also set up England's opener for Frank Lampard, won a late penalty which Peter Crouch squandered and provided the pass for Crouch to complete his hat-trick.

''Michael wanted to show himself, myself and the coaches he's ready for the World Cup,'' said Eriksson, who had been less impressed in their 3-1 friendly win over Hungary.

''His performance...was much, much better than last Tuesday.

''I think Michael knows his body and he's always been calculating 'the World Cup is close, I will show who Michael Owen is'. He will probably play even better next Saturday.'' Eriksson was full of praise for the Newcastle United striker's all-round game.

''He made the right movements, a lot of runs into space behind the full-backs and he fought for the ball in the air even though he doesn't win many up there, and that had been only so-so last Tuesday,'' said the Swede.

''I think it was a quite different Michael Owen compared to five days before.'' As for the goal which took the striker's tally to 36 in 77 England appearances, Eriksson said: ''It will help his confidence.

But he believes in himself.

''He's been working very hard for a long time to be prepared for the World Cup. I'm sure about that.'' After Paraguay, England continue their Group B campaign against Trinidad&Tobago and Sweden.

REUTERS