Capello doesn't care for Micky
Let's all just calm down for a second.
Michael Owen scores a hat-trick for Manchester United and the every back page on Wednesday morning screams "OWEN FOR ENGLAND!!!"
It's a quick win for sports editors everywhere but also, it's such a distant possibility that it's a bit of a waste of time.
Obviously the sight of Michael Owen in an England shirt stirs powerful memories for any fan of the side now managed by Fabio Capello. Most memorably, a precocious 18-year-old speeding past several astonished Argentinian defenders in Saint-Etienne at the 1998 World Cup in France.
But that was a long time ago. It was in 1998. That's 11 years ago. 11 YEARS AGO!! We've all moved on, there's been plenty of water under the bridge and niggling injuries and spells in Spain and horse stables to build in the meantime.
Granted, little Micky looked quite useful against Wolfsburg as United secured top spot in Group B with a smash-and-grab 3-1 victory in Saxony. And he's still only 29 - hardly ancient in footballing terms.
But the hat-trick hardly told us anything we didn't already know. Owen is a lethal finisher, but he also happens to be injury prone, and in turn all those injuries (and simply the aging process) have robbed him of his once electric pace.
Even United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said last night that Wolfsburg had been a little bit unlucky to concede two goals on the break in the way they did.
There is a case for having Owen at the World Cup next summer to come off the bench for a bit of finishing prowess that might turn a tight game.
But you can make a better case for someone like Jermain Defoe to be in that role - lightning quick, and although not as deadly a finisher as Owen, a natural goalscorer.
Although some England fans may groan at the prospect, fitness permitting, Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey will be the first-choice strikers at the World Cup.
Owen will rarely get chances at international level like he did last night. Wolfsburg were chasing the game, and he punished them with admirable efficiency, but the ITV Spy asserts he has little chance of making that plane to South Africa.
Welcome, Alberto
What better way for Alberto Aquilani kick off his Anfield career than a dead rubber in the UEFA Champions League against Fiorentina?
Liverpool are long since out of the competition, Aquilani has been recuperating from a long-term injury and boss Rafael Benitez says it would be "unfair" to start him in a game against the likes of Blackburn or Everton.
That's one way of looking at it, Rafa, but if he's worth the £20million you paid for him surely he should be able to play against anyone in the Premier League?
We're playing devil's advocate, of course - it's fair enough to start him off gently. And Rafa will also know that this weekend's clash with Arsenal will hardly be the most physical of encounters for a player who seems a bit fragile.
But on a serious note, Benitez cannot afford Aquilani to be a flop. There is a lot riding on his success - particularly with Xabi Alonso, sold last summer, performing so well for Real Madrid in Spain.
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