Michael Owen backs midfielder for England recall in countdown to this summer's World Cup

Premier League players' minds may be focused on domestic duties right now, but in a World Cup year, there's always half an eye on what's to come at the end of the campaign. 

Next month, England will be in action as they contest friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, and it presents a final opportunity for players to make an impression on boss Thomas Tuchel before he starts to think about his World Cup squad. 

There are plenty of names on the periphery who could make a late run for a spot, but for former Three Lions striker Michael Owen, there's one that has come right back into the forefront of inclusion. 

Speaking exclusively to DAZN News, thanks to casino.org, where he is now the UK ambassador for the online casino comparison site, Owen has earmarked the man brought back in from the cold at Manchester United by Michael Carrick as someone who should be given an England recall. 

"The first player to mention Kobbie Mainoo [from] Man United," he said. 

"He most certainly make a run to make the England squad in the second half of the season for sure.

"You have Elliott Anderson and Declan Rice that are probably going to start at the minute, and then where do you go after that?

"Wharton will probably go, but outside of that, there is no one in better form in midfield than Mainoo at Man Utd.

"He has come back into the team and look how Man Utd are performing now. They are playing with big confidence, and  Mainoo has been in the middle of midfield for those games, so he is definitely in with a shout for sure." 

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Mainoo may well be able to secure a place in midfield in England's squad, but there could also still be places up for grabs in attack, too, especially as Harry Kane's understudy. 

Owen, who scored 40 goals for his country, played in an era where there was more competition in that area than in any other generation, but it's more difficult to pinpoint who England could possibly turn to in the summer as an alternative to Kane. 

Adding, "Harry Kane is the first name on the team sheet as the number 9, then you have Ollie Watkins, who is next in line, I believe, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin is having a good season at Leeds and returning to form, so he is in with a shout if he continues to score goals. 

"Dominic Solanke has returned to fitness with Spurs and scored a few, so he needs to continue scoring. But there is no obvious like-for-like replacement for Kane as it stands." 

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