England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has revealed that Real Madrid's Michael Owen recently called him for advice about his club future amid worries about him retaining his World Cup place.

The striker is unlikely to start many games for Real Madrid, prompting English Premiership side Newcastle to have agreed a fee of around £17m with Real Madrid for his services, however,it is believed the player would prefer to re-join his old club Liverpool.

Sven said "His worry was that if he played like last season, would I pick him or not? I told him if he plays as many games as he did last season, I will pick him. If he doesn't play as much it's tricky,"

The Swede will name his England squad on Sunday for the World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland.

Owen, who is thought to be flying in on Monday to have talks with the Magpies and Liverpool, is suspended for the first game in Cardiff.

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe is expected to take his place and partner Wayne Rooney, but Owen should return against Northern Ireland.

Eriksson added: "He is always a very calm young man but is very keen to play football, so you can understand that he wants to come back to England. "If he stays at Real Madrid then he doesn't know how much he will play.

I think something has to happen very soon, although exactly what, I don't know.I will be very happy the day that they tell me what's going to happen to him as I think he's worried. He's a calm person but he wants to know his future."

Owen is already a multi millionaire, and so any decision he reaches will more than likely be one that can help his England career, rather than for his own financial reward.

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