Two of England’s more threatening moves stemmed from his selflessness, and both highlighted his mobility and versatility.First he attacked from the left side, leaving the full-back trailing before cutting the ball back to the edge of the six-yard area. His assurance was all the more striking in that he began in a slightly deeper position than at club level, in order to feed off the other newcomer, Dion Dublin.The expectant crowd had to wait only five minutes for a glimpse of his talent Dublin’s cushioned pass set up the opportunity. Owen’s right- footed shot from 12 yards was true, only for Nelson Tapia to deny him with an instinctive one-handed save.Yet there is more to Owen’s game than a predatory instinct. They must have been fingering their wads anxiously in the early stages, for he started as confidently as if it were just another kickabout in his old playground near Chester.Owen had expected to be nervous beforehand, as he was on his Liverpool bow nine months ago, but anticipated that the adrenalin would quickly override the tension. The evidence of the past six months suggested Owen would not be out of his depth.Like Jimmy Greaves four decades earlier, he came into his first international having scored on every debut from primary school to Premiership and beyond. His finishing in this, his first full season, has been as cold and calculating as John Prescott’s impromptu Brit award.Greaves, however, was a veritable veteran of 19 years and 86 days when Walter Winterbottom introduced him against Chile’s neighbours, Peru.The bookies in the stadium had Owen at evens to find the net and 3-1 to score the game’s first goal. But, as Glenn Hoddle had remarked, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

It’s about me and your best friend, Emma …Susan: Emma? Oh, God, I know what you’re going to say!Peter:You do?Susan: Yes. You’re going to say that you prefer creme brulee the way she does it!Peter: No Well, yes That as well. But the main thing is that she and I …Susan: Darling?Peter: Yes?Susan: Just pop inside and bring a bottle of something chilled, would you? Just you and me, and a glass of Chablis! How lovely!Peter: (dully) Ye-e-es .. Oh, God …. MICHAEL OWEN failed to maintain his customary standards at Wembley, where he had scored in both his schoolboy international outings, but passed the first stage of his audition for France 98.

Owen, who took Duncan Edwards’ record as England’s youngest player this century at the tender age of 18 years and 59 days, certainly did enough to warrant his inclusion in England’s next World Cup warm-up match, away to Switzerland next month. It is to be hoped that he will receive a less prosaic service from midfield on that occasion.
The incongruity of his appearance last night was summed up by the fact that Teddy Sheringham, one of his attacking allies, made his League debut a month after Owen’s fifth birthday. No one is saying that executive government can be effective without being able to rely on guaranteed support in the lobbies. But none of that means they cannot challenge ministers and their prejudices, especially on issues which are far from central to this Government’s existence.Labour MPs should have asked more searching questions about the purposes of British armed forces in the Gulf.