The match with Switzerland was no more than a friendly, and the national press jumped on the fact Owen spent the 94 minutes sat on his backside.
Capello knows Newcastle have not been able to build a team around him because he has missed far more games than he has played.
So playing him wouldn't have shown him anything he didn't know already, very much the same with David Beckham.
But, unlike Steve McClaren who loved the media spotlight, the Italian keeps his ideas and system very close to his chest.
The fact his English is poor, at this moment in time, is a benefit to him. Already the vultures are circling, with former England manager Terry Venables AND McClaren giving the new boss "advice".
Venables has cast doubt on whether Fabio Capello and his backroom team can improve the technique of national team players and McClaren says the Italian should name his captain now ... rather than wait.