England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says striker Michael Owen must prove in training next week that he deserves to face Wales in a World Cup qualifier -- or risk losing his place.
Faced with stiff competition at Real Madrid from Raul, Ronaldo and Fernando Morientes, Owen has mainly been limited to cameo appearances since leaving Liverpool in August.
"Of course, I've been thinking about Michael Owen's situation because he's been sitting on the bench a lot now," Eriksson told reporters on Friday.
"But I won't decide what to do until the practice sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
"Training is the most important thing. You can see straight away how they are -- if they are down, if they are on good form and if they are sharp."
Eriksson is expected to choose two strikers from three hopefuls to face Wales in Saturday's Group Six qualifier in Manchester.
With 27 goals in 63 England appearances, Owen has been a first choice striker since bursting on to the scene at the 1998 World Cup and has been made vice-captain under Eriksson.
NO FAVOURITES
"As a manager you should try to be loyal to the players...but at some point, if I have a player sitting on the bench in the squad who is better than someone who normally plays, I have no doubts.
"It's not like I have favourites."
Summing up Owen's plight, Eriksson said: "It's not good for him, it's not good for me, or for England if he plays too little football at the moment...
"Of course, it's tough for him, he's never been used to sitting on the bench, not for England or for Liverpool."
One place up front looks destined for Wayne Rooney after the teenager's hat-trick on his Manchester United debut last Tuesday in their Champions League victory over Fenerbahce, following an injury layoff since Euro 2004.
Jermain Defoe, in sparkling form for Tottenham Hotspur, has also been a serious contender since scoring on his first England start in last month's 2-1 qualifying win in Poland.
Asked if the Spurs striker had a chance of playing against Wales, Eriksson said: "Of course."
Concern over Owen's fitness reflects an unwritten rule that sidelined players lack sharpness on their return to action.
REMARKABLE ROONEY
"Every forward normally needs games and to score goals, that's more or less always been the rule until last Tuesday," Eriksson said, referring to Rooney's sensational debut.
"He's not played football since June, I understand he had four or five sessions with the ball before the game and he scored three times -- and could have scored four or five.
"I know he can play at that level but I didn't expect it in his first game and in the Champions League. That was remarkable," said the Swede, who believes the 18-year-old could even be a candidate for FIFA World Player of the Year.
With national coaches being asked to give an initial choice of 30 names, Eriksson said: "I should be very surprised if he's not on that list."
As for being a candidate for the shortlist, he added: "I think so but when you talk about that, competition is very high."
Eriksson, whose team face Azerbaijan in another World Cup qualifier in Baku on October 13, has selection headaches elsewhere in the team.
With Rio Ferdinand back from suspension and Sol Campbell back having returned after injury, Eriksson's 2002 World Cup central defensive pairing is available to take over from John Terry and Ledley King.
"These are extremely good problems to have," said the Swede.
Eriksson said left back Wayne Bridge is a doubt, while midfielders Kieron Dyer (hamstring) and Steven Gerrard (foot) are injured, forcing a re-shuffle in the middle.
Nicky Butt would be a candidate for the central midfield role alongside Frank Lampard, while Joe Cole was one for the left side, said Eriksson, who names his squad on Sunday.
The England coach also faces a choice in goal with David James dropped for the win over Poland, and ably replaced by Paul Robinson, after a costly blunder in the 2-2 draw with Austria.