Real Madrid striker Michael Owen has been more worried about his World Cup place than his club football, according to England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"I spoke to Michael on Thursday and we talked for 10 minutes. He is worried about his club football but has even more worries about the national team in a World Cup year," revealed Eriksson.

With the transfer window to be closed on Wednesday, Owen stillfaces uncertain future at club level, weighing up possible moves from Real Madrid to former English club Liverpool or Newcastle.

Owen moved from Liverpool to Spain's Real Madrid in August last year for eight million pounds but could not make sure of a regular starting place in Real.

Owen was prompted to look elsewhere following Real's decision to sign Brazilian forwards Robinho and Julio Baptista in the closeseason.

Although English premier league side Newcastle United agreed a transfer fee with Real for the England striker, Owen has said thathe would prefer a return to Anfield.

But Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has said that his priorityis to sign a right-sided midfielder and a central defender, and made little comment on the speculation on Owen's return.

Eriksson revealed that Owen called him to discuss his future, expressing his worries about his international place if he stays on the sidelines at club level.

"Michael Owen is 25 - a golden age for England - so of course he wants to play at the World Cup. His worry was that if he playedlike he did last season, would I pick him or not?

"I told him that, of course, if he plays as many games as he did last season, I will pick him. If he never plays, however, thenit's a tricky one."

But for the moment Owen's international place is safe as he will be included in the England squad to be named on Sunday for the imminent World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland, although he is suspended for the first game in Cardiff.

"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,"said Eriksson.

Source: Xinhua