Bookie Paddy Power has cut the odds for Michael Owen to make it to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello’s England squad next year. Following his Champions League hat-trick last night against Wolfsburg the Manchester United striker is now 2/1 from 10/3 to be part of English World Cup Squad.
However the bookmaker also offers a true reality check to the Owen bandwagon with seven other strikers all at shorter betting odds to be part of the team than Manchester United’s number seven.
Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “It was a great night for Owen, obviously his best yet in a United shirt, but we still think he has a lot more work to do to convince a doubting Fabio of his worth and climb the England striker pecking order.”
Barring injury Wayne Rooney is a shoo-in for the squad at betting odds of just 1/100 with Jermain Defoe also looking a certainty at 1/14. Owen’s likely rivals for a spot in the 23 could come from the likes of Carlton Cole, Gabby Agbonlahor – both 6/4 – and Darren Bent at odds of 7/4.
Owen is also on offer at odds of 28/1 to be England’s top scorer in South Africa, with Wayne Rooney again heading the market at 13/8.

