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Teenager wants to make Liverpool and World Cup
LONDON (AP) -- At the tender age of 17, Michael Owen is not only trying to crack Liverpool's starting lineup, but he's also attempting to make England's squad for the World Cup in France in 1998.If he does break through in the next several months, he will become England's youngest full international this century.
Owen, starting in place of suspended Robbie Fowler this week, notched his first hat trick for Liverpool in a 3-0 win over second-division Grimsby in the League Cup.
Owen boasts plenty of speed and even more confidence. He's been invited several times by England manager Glenn Hoddle to work out with the national team.
"You aren't asked to go to train with England just for the ride," said Owen. "They are looking for future internationals, and if they don't see you in that mold, they wouldn't invite you.
"Glenn Hoddle has said he will give a few people their chance, and if he is thinking of taking me to the World Cup finals I hope he will give me that chance before the summer."
Owen started the season at Liverpool as a novelty, an apprentice for England international Fowler and Germany's Karlheinz Riedle.
Now he's mimicking Fowler by scoring his first goal against Grimsby off a rebound from the goalkeeper.
"Robbie scores a lot of goals like that for Liverpool," Owen said. "He gets in quickly on to rebounds, and it's what I must learn to do."
Liverpool manager Roy Evans seems convinced.
"We have three major strikers now, and they are in no particular order," he said. "Michael has taken his chance. We said before the season started that we would take care of him, nurse him along, but he has changed all that. He wants to play all the time."
The youngest international this century for England was Duncan Edwards of Manchester United, who was 18 years and 183 days old when he made his England debut in 1955.
Owen, who turns 18 on Dec. 14, has until June 14, a week into the World Cup finals in France, to surpass Edwards.
He should get the chance with England playing as many as five friendlies before the World Cup.
Liverpool, with 22 points and a game in hand on league-leaders Manchester United (28 points), plays Saturday at home to Barnsley as the Premier League resumes play after a week off. Arsenal and Blackburn are a point back with 27.
In Saturday's other seven games, it's Aston Villa vs. Everton; Blackburn vs. Chelsea; Derby vs. Coventry; Leicester vs. Bolton; Newcastle vs. Southampton; Sheffield Wednesday vs. Arsenal, and Wimbledon vs. Manchester United. West Ham plays at Leeds on Sunday.
In the first division, Nottingham Forest leads with 34 points -- just ahead of Swindon and West Bromwich Albion on goal difference. On Saturday, Forest is home to Charlton and Swindon is home against Middlesbrough. On Sunday, West Brom hosts cross-town rival Birmingham.
In Scotland, leaders Hearts are home Sunday to Kilmarnock. On Saturday, second-place Rangers play at Motherwell and Celtic is home to Dundee United.
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GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
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GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
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GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
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