Red Devils striker a part of last three squads

Michael Owen admits it feels strange to not be a part of England's World Cup campaign.

The Manchester United striker, who burst onto the scene with one of the goal’s of the tournament against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France, will not be a part of this summer's tournament after a hamstring injury in March ruled him out.

The 30-year-old, once a key member of the England squad before injuries blighted his career, has not been selected by manager Fabio Capello to play for the Three Lions since the game against France in 2008, with many speculating his international career may be over.

Owen appears not to have given up hope, and has stated that he still felt very much a part of the international set-up.

Owen said: "Not being in South Africa will be strange.

"I've been involved in our last five major tournaments and, even if I haven't played internationally for the last year or two, I still feel a part of it, I'm still mates with the lads.”

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward, who has scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England, also stated how he would like to get into coaching one day, despite still being focused on his fitness and continuing his playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

"I've started doing my coaching badges now so I'm on a rung of the ladder which would indicate I'm half thinking about it," he added.

"As you get older you start thinking about how and why managers do things.
"I find it all really, really interesting. That's why I started doing my coaching badges."