We can win without Owen, Eriksson says

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson believes Robbie Fowler, Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole can make up for the absence of injured Michael Owen and help guide his team to victory against Greece on Saturday.

The two sides clash in their final World Cup qualifier at Old Trafford, with England seeking the win that would take them to next year's finals as group nine winners.

Eriksson has had to re-shuffle his pack since Owen was ruled out last month by injury.

But the Swede dismissed the idea that his men could not manage without the prolific Liverpool striker, who has scored 14 goals in 32 internationals.

"You can't think like that. It would be crazy," he told a news conference on Tuesday. "Of course, we can win without Michael Owen."

England have also lost defender Sol Campbell and there are doubts over goalkeeper David Seaman, who is nursing an inflamed shoulder.

But Eriksson dismissed such concerns.

"We were more lucky before the Germany game and the Albania game, we didn't have any problems," he said. "But we have to play the game and we have to win the game.

"We would not be a big team if we suddenly start to play football badly because we have a couple of injuries. It should not be like that and I hope it will not be like that."

Though he would not be drawn on his ideas for the team, Eriksson seemed particularly enthusiastic about Fowler, whose superb solo goal against Albania sealed a 2-0 victory in Newcastle last month.

Fitter Fowler
"I think Fowler, at practice today, looked much fitter than he did before the Germany game. So, of course, I'm happy about that," Eriksson said.

"He's an excellent finisher, very good technique, good shooting, good vision of the play. We're talking about one of the top forwards in Europe. He's excellent."

Eriksson said Cole had done "very well" for Manchester United at the weekend, scoring the goal that sparked the stunning second-half revival which led to a 5-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

However, he also handed out praise to a striker on the losing team -- Sheringham, who has scored three times in the league this season after joining Spurs from Manchester United.

"I'm very happy for Teddy. He's started the season very well with Tottenham. He's experienced and a clever player, he can read the game if he's on the pitch or on the bench.

"I think it's important to have a player like him. When he stops playing, I think he has a very good possibility of being a very good coach or manager."

With Eriksson having established club team mate Emile Heskey as Owen's usual strike partner, Fowler, as a fellow Liverpool forward, should have a head start in the race to play on Saturday.

"It might be an advantage that Heskey and Fowler have played together, and Cole and Sheringham many times in the past," Eriksson conceded.

"But if you take a player like Fowler or Sheringham they can play with any of the others."

Eriksson tried to sum up his options.

"I know what they can do when they are at the maximum, all of them are very good players," he said. "It's up to me to try to put in who is in the better shape than the other."