Owen eyeing up goals against Estonia

Internationals / Editor / 11 October 2007 / Leave a Comment

Michael Owen has his sights on Bobby Charlton's goalscoring record but more importantly, England need three points

England v Estonia - Saturday, kick-off 3pm (live on BBC1)

Steve McClaren has indicated he may make changes for the Estonia game, with a crunch clash in Russia looming next week, but punters cannot foresee anything other than an England victory (1.09) in this must-win clash.

Key defensive trio John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole are just one caution away from a suspension (Terry also has a knee injury) and may not be risked in Saturday's Wembley clash. The defensive situation is proving a real headache for the head coach, who is already without Wes Brown, while Sol Campbell is also a major doubt.

The absence of experienced players and the current alarming form of first-choice keeper Paul Robinson, means Betfair's England Clean Sheet market may see plenty of action with 'No' available at 3.2, while 'Yes' is on offer at 1.44.

However, England have not conceded a goal at home in the qualifying group so far and whichever back line McClaren picks will be expected to keep out a team who have scored just three goals in 10 qualifying games.

In the only meeting to date in Tallinn in June, during this Group E qualification schedule, England easily dealt with the Estonia goal threat and secured a 3-0 victory. Indeed goals at the other end are fancied again with a repeat scoreline fancied at 6.2, but Any Unquoted (a market to accommodate more than three goals for England) is the warm favourite at 2.54.

With Estonia's poor defensive record in the group, conceding 18 goals in ten games, and the fact that their main goalkeeper Mart Poom is an injury doubt, 'Over 3.5 Goals' could prove attractive at 2.12 while 'Over 4.5 goals' will also have support at 3.55.

Joe Cole opened the scoring in the previous encounter and could offer value again as first goalscorer but most eyes will be on a fit again Michael Owen, who was also on the score sheet that day.

The 27-year-old is currently on 40 goals, just nine behind all-time top scorer Bobby Charlton and will be determined to add to his tally against this quality of opposition and will be short odds to score.

A hat-trick for the Newcastle striker would take him to within one goal of third placed Jimmy Greaves and the feat for Owen, or indeed any other player, is available at 7.2 in Betfair's 'Hat-trick Scored' market.

Watford shot-stopper Poom is one of only a handful of the visitors squad to play club football outside their homeland, and playing in front of a packed house at Wembley is likely to be a daunting prospect. England often prosper from scoring an early goal (they have scored inside the first 20 minutes in their last three games) with '0-10 Minutes' on offer at 3.35 for the first strike, while '11-20 Minutes' can be supported at 3.85.

Viggo Jensen's visitors have won just one game in the group, a 2-1 victory over Andorra, with their only draw of the opening ten games coming in Macedonia. It is no surprise then that they are 48 to claim a shock win in London, with a share of spoils available at 14.

With three games left for McClaren's men and England sitting second in their group, three points behind Croatia and two ahead of Russia, the World Cup quarter-finalists are on offer at 1.36 to qualify for Austria and Switzerland. Croatia remain the 1.06 favourites.