One Man's Injury - Another Man's Opportunity!

Owen picked up the thigh injury in England's friendly against Austria last week and will be missing for some time.

Allardyce: "I hope Oba can come in and start scoring the goals that Michael hasn't been recently, to be perfectly honest.

"I've been very pleased with Oba in recent weeks and I'm looking for him to link up with Mark Viduka or Shola Ameobi.

"The injury to Michael gives other players a chance to get in.

"I hope they take up that challenge and produce the sort of performances we know they are capable of."