Owen not panicking over lack of England goals

BUHLERTAL, Germany, June 18 (Reuters) England striker Michael Owen brushed off his lack of World Cup goals today, saying his self belief would see him through.

Sidelined for nearly five months with a broken bone in his foot and struggling for his best form, Owen has been substituted in the two Group B games in Germany.

''I don't feel as though I'm playing poorly,'' Owen told reporters. ''I'm not tripping over the ball every time I get it or giving the ball away.

''I've played two games for about 55 minutes and not scored and it's the end of the world for a lot of people. I've had barren spells before that have lasted for more than two 55 minutes, so there's no panic for me.'' Owen said he was unconcerned by the criticism.

''I'm sure when I get the chance I'll score goals,'' he said.

''I've seen it all before.

''Alan Shearer, Gary Lineker, players like that, have all been criticised in the past. You've got to criticise someone so it might as well be me, I've got broad shoulders.'' FRIENDLY WIN Owen has only managed one substitute's appearance for Newcastle United since suffering his injury on Dec. 31 and has lasted 90 minutes with England once this year, in their 6-0 friendly win over Jamaica two weeks ago.

''I've been out for a large part of the season so it's inevitable I'm not going to be on the absolute top of my game straight away,'' he said.

''I played 90 minutes against Jamaica and I feel fine, fresh and fit. I feel as if I'm playing all right and coming into a litle bit of form.'' Owen, who has scored 36 goals in 79 England appearances and is playing in his third World Cup, also dismissed any notion of a lack of confidence.

''It's not a confidence thing or anything else,'' he said.

''There's a belief about me because I've done it before.

''Even in the last World Cup I didn't score in the group stage and I scored in the second round against Denmark and in the quarter-final against Brazil.

''I know I can do it at that level, there's a belief inside me.'' Owen gets a chance to silence his critics on Tuesday when England follow up wins over Paraguay and Trinidad&Tobago with their final group game against Sweden.

Already qualified for the second round, England need a draw to top the group and will face hosts Germany or Ecuador in the last 16.

REUTERS AY PC1910