Striker Michael Owen has been tipped for an England recall by Manchester United team-mate Michael Carrick.

Owen was United's matchwinner after bagging a hat-trick in Tuesday's 3-1 Champions League victory over Wolfsburg in Germany.

The 29-year-old has not featured for England since March 2008 after being overlooked by head coach Fabio Capello.

But despite suggestions that the likes of Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Carlton Cole are all ahead of him in the pecking order, Carrick believes that Owen could still win a place in Capello's 23-man squad for next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

"Hopefully now he can get on a roll and he will continue to score many important goals for us over the next few weeks," he said.

"I hope he gets in the England squad. We want as many United players there as possible.

"It's not my decision, it's the England manager's. But you can only go on how many important goals he does score at any time really.

"I don't think he proved anything against Wolfsburg that we didn't know already. That's what he's all about, scoring big goals."

Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Related articles

• Which strikers will make Capello’s cut?
• Crouch leads the England attack – the wiser of two gambles?
• Can West Ham star cut the international mustard?
• Why Spurs star’s inclusion shouldn’t be a tall order
• Why Owen’s Three Lions return is one step closer