Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson feels Michael Owen can still do a job for England.

Owen, now 31, may be given the chance to reinforce his claims for club and country when United face Swiss club Basle in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

His two-goal master-class against Leeds in the ­Carling Cup last Tuesday has already convinced Ferguson that he remains a potent threat at the highest level of the game.

And Fergie gave England coach Fabio Capello a nudge in the striker's direction ahead of the European ­Championship qualifier away to Montenegro on Friday week.

Ferguson said: "Put it this way, if you need a goal out of ­nothing, there's nobody better in the game.

"Michael Owen has that gift where he can appear in the box from nowhere.

"He's not got that burst of pace he had as a younger ­person, you always lose pace.

"But Michael has the ­positional sense - it's brilliant. He has the awareness around the box and the ability to make runs at the right time and get across the ­defender.

"He's also good to have about the dressing room. He is a nice ­person, a good professional and trains ­really well."