LONDON: Michael Owen's chances of playing in the World Cup finals suffered another blow on Sunday when coach Fabio Capello snubbed the striker for next month's qualifier with Croatia.

The 29-year-old Manchester United player, who scored his first competitive goal for the English champions in last week's Premier League defeat of Wigan, is his country's fourth-highest goalscorer. But Capello was not convinced enough by the striker's form to include him in the squad which face Slovenia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday or the Group Six qualifier with Croatia on Sept 9 where victory would guarantee England's place in the finals in South Africa.

Capello has instead decided to keep faith with Tottenham star Jermain Defoe, who has been in fine form this season.