ARSENE WENGER is backing Liverpool prodigy Michael Owen to become the best striker in the world.
Like everyone else, the Arsenal manager has watched in amazement as the 18-year-old won PFA Young Player of the Year, Carling Player of the Year, a share of the Golden Boot as the Premiership's top scorer and became England's youngest international this century in an unforgettable first full season as a professional.
Wenger said: ''When you consider that last July he was playing in the World Youth Cup in Malaysia and that 12 months later he's been voted the best young player in England, it shows just how good he is. Everybody believes that Owen will be one of the best players in the world in the next decade because he has so much talent.
''He's got an awful lot of pace and he has determination as well. We'll have to see how he copes with the pressure and fame but he is clearly an intelligent player and I'm confident he'll do just as well in the future.''
Owen, tipped to make Glenn Hoddle's 22-man World Cup squad, was named in yesterday's 30 strong party for a friendly against Saudi Arabia at Wembley and two warm-up games in Morocco.

BULGARIA AXE HERO LECHKOV BULGARIA coach Hristo Bonev has stuck with his tried and trusted (some would say past-it) players in his 26-man preliminary World Cup squad… and that's bad news for Yordan Lechkov, one of the heroes of USA 94. The midfielder created one of the shocks of the tournament with the goal that beat defending champions Germany and put his little-fancied nation in the semi-finals, but he has had a miserable time since. He was already a fringe figure at Hamburg four years ago and moved on, first to Marseille -where he barely got a game - and then into Turkish football. He returned to Bulgaria in search of first-team football so he could win back his international place only to be banned by FIFA because he left his previous club without their permission. With Lechkov unable to get a game anywhere, Bonev had no choice but to leave him out of his plans.

WYNALDA READY FOR USA RETURN ERIC WYNALDA is set to make an amazing recovery from torn cartilage and sprained ligaments in his knee and play for the USA in France. The striker, who played a key role as the host nation reached the last 16 four years ago and is their record goalscorer, was hurt just last month and originally feared he would be out for eight weeks. But he has now proved his fitness to delighted coach Steve Sampson. I'm going to be just fine," Wynalda insisted. "We're just taking it slow and making sure I'm ready.

top