Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan insists their decision not to pursue new Manchester United striker Michael Owen had nothing to do with the player's ability.

"Signing Michael Owen for Manchester United was a wonderful move by Alex Ferguson," Whelan said. "Michael is brilliant in the box. Around the park he has obviously lost his will and real determination because he has had some really bad injuries. But in the box, he is still the best. By the end of the season I think he will have scored 15 goals.

"Why didn't I sign him? We can't afford a player we put on the pitch for half an hour. I'm sure Manchester United are giving him good wages and it would be a struggle for us to pay him. At Wigan we need players who can play 90 minutes regularly.

"He's still a quality player. It depends on how he does over the next half a dozen games or so for United. If he starts scoring again, I think he will play for England again."