Newcastle United's injury-plagued striker Michael Owen is being backed to resurrect his career.

"When he is fit, he is still one of the best in the business," ex-England coach Steve McClaren said yesterday.

"I worked with him for seven or eight years at international level and he was never a problem. At the moment, things are tough for him, but he will bounce back."

Despite his continued absence from Fabio Capello's England squads, his former team-mates remain convinced of his qualities.

"We miss not having him around because he's a top-quality striker," said former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard. "He's always scored goals for England."