Michael Owen failed to score but completed another 90 minutes of his comeback from injury as he helped England 'B' beat Albania 3-1 on Friday.

Owen had previously played just three games for Newcastle United since sustaining a serious knee injury on England duty in last year's World Cup finals in Germany.

But with the striker's match fitness improving following surgery he is set to be included in the senior squad coach Steve McClaren names at 1100 GMT on Saturday for next week's friendly against Brazil and the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia on June 6.

The 27-year-old Owen missed a chance to claim his first goal since scoring against Jamaica in a friendly last June when he shot wide from an early Aaron Lennon pass.

He failed to take one further opportunity but England won comfortably thanks to two goals from Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing, the second made by Owen, after Manchester United's Alan Smith had opened the scoring.

SHARP OWEN

Assessing Owen's performance, McClaren said: "It was his first 90 minutes for England for nearly a year and he needs more of that. His all-round play was very, very good. He looked sharp, strong and linked up play very well.

"It was just the icing on the cake that was missing, but that will come. He was in (the right) positions and in the area and it's just a matter of time before he gets the timing back.

"He just needs games and match practice to get back to what he was. I don't think we can expect too much and don't put pressure on him too much. We need a fit Michael Owen raring to go in every game."

Goalscorers Downing and Smith are likely to be selected by McClaren and he may also have been impressed by uncapped Blackburn Rovers winger David Bentley, who could challenge David Beckham for a place in the squad.

McClaren refused to be drawn on growing speculation that he would include Beckham for the first time since he replaced Sven Goran Eriksson as coach last summer.

"We will all find out tomorrow," McClaren said.

Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon, who plays in Beckham's position on the right, is an injury doubt after twisting his knee and has been sent for a scan.

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