Rooney urged to hit the goal trail

FABIO Capello has urged Wayne Rooney to regain his goalscoring touch as the England head coach defended his decision to leave out Michael Owen for the World Cup qualifiers with Andorra and Croatia.

Capello opted not to select Owen, despite his scoring record of 40 goals in 89 internationals, after watching him in action for Newcastle against Arsenal last weekend.

Now he is hoping Rooney, without an international goal since scoring against Russia 11 months ago, can fill the breach, starting today at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, where Andorra play their home matches with no suitable ground of their own available in their own country. Rooney looked a shadow of himself when partnering Jermain Defoe in last month's friendly international against the Czech Republic on his way to recovering from an illness which he picked up when in Africa with Manchester United.

Capello said: "It is very important for Wayne Rooney to be perfect physically. For the game against the Czech Republic he wasn't fit. Now he is better physically. But he has to score a goal. Psychologically, goals are very important for forwards and if you don't hit the target then it's a problem. But it's not only Wayne but all the other players. It's not important who scores the goals individually but that the team manages to score them."

Owen completed his first 90 minutes of the season against the Gunners having previously come off the bench to score against Bolton and then Coventry in the Carling Cup. Capello insisted the door is still open for England's fourth all-time scorer but wants him to prove his fitness in the same way as he laid down the challenge to David Beckham when he first took over as England manager ten months ago.

Capello said: "I considered everything when I watched Michael. It was his first full game. I checked him very well and he was not fit. These days it is important for players to be 100 per cent fit. The door is always open though to someone like Michael who is such a good goalscorer and maybe for the next games the situation will be different."

After five friendly internationals, England will finally move into competitive action and Capello is optimistic that they will be able to qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa.

He said: "I have confidence in this England team. We're only just starting on the road to South Africa but we are ready. We've played the five friendlies including the last one against a strong team like the Czech Republic. Everyone knows how important it is for England to play in big tournaments and everyone is focused on trying to achieve that."

Beckham will be starting out on his fourth World Cup qualifying campaign having featured in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 adventures in France, Japan and Germany. And Capello is adamant the LA Galaxy star still has a major role to perform for his country, saying: "If I choose players in the squad, then I am choosing the best players and for me now Beckham is one of the best."

Capello will be without the services of Rio Ferdinand against the Andorrans because of a stiff neck and it is likely that Matthew Upson will partner skipper John Terry at the heart of the defence.

There are unlikely to be any other changes with Joe Cole set to return to the left side of midfield for Gerrard.

Capello is mindful of the need for England to keep their discipline as Andorra showed themselves to be an ultra physical side when being beaten by England 3-0 in the same stadium three months ago.

He said: "Discipline is always important and no-one wants to pick up unnecessary yellow cards which may impact later in the campaign."

Capello has also called on club managers "to respect me" and to stop criticising the performances of the national side. Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp launched a particularly scathing attack after the 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Wembley.

Capello said: "The other managers have to respect me. They support me enough, all the managers. But I'd prefer it if other managers didn't comment on England's performances. Was I surprised of the strength of Harry Redknapp's criticism? I think, sometimes, it's okay. Sometimes it's not okay. It depends on the opinion everyone has about football. But I never speak about other teams."