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Owen plays 90 minutes, Beckham recalled

Michael Owen returned to international play for the first time since injuring his knee at last year's World Cup, playing a full 90 minutes for England's "B" side on Friday in a 3-1 friendly victory over Albania.

He set up Stewart Downing for England's third goal in the second half, but the Newcastle striker's best chance came in the seventh minute, steering wide a cross from Aaron Lennon.

"His overall performance was very good," England manager Steve McClaren said. "It was just the goal, the icing on the cake that was missing."

McClaren announced the squad for the Brazil and Estonia matches yesterday and, as expected, included former captain David Beckham in the side for the first time since the World Cup.

With six rounds to go in Group E, England is fourth. Just the top two teams qualify for the finals automatically.

Owen returned to the full squad in place of the suspended Wayne Rooney and there were also call-ups for Reading's Nicky Shorey and Blackburn's David Bentley, who also played on Friday.

But Beckham could face stiff competition from Bentley, who provided a series of precision deliveries into the box in Friday's friendly.

The friendly at Burnley's Turf Moor allowed McClaren to test players who may be able to revive the full national team's faltering European Championship campaign.

Owen insists he is fit and regaining his form to play a part in the June 1 friendly against Brazil at Wembley and the Euro 2008 qualifier five days later in Estonia.

"I have been out for a year and it is only my fourth game so I'm never going to be my total best," he said. "But I do feel my touch is decent."

Owen ruptured a knee ligament in England's 2-2 draw with Sweden in June and only recovered in time to play in Newcastle's final three matches of the season.

"I'm fit physically," Owen said. "My knee feels great, my body feels great and it's just a matter of playing and getting sharper and sharper. If I get the balls whizzed in the box and score a couple of goals, then everyone will say he looks back to his best, but in reality it might take 10 games. I might be there now and just bubbling under just waiting for a few chances and a lot of the ball."

Despite Owen's early bursts forward, it was strike partner Alan Smith and Middlesbrough winger Downing who finished.

Smith, making his first England appearance in 19 months, struck low from 15 yards past Arjan Beqaj in the 34th minute. Gareth Barry laid the ball back for Smith after latching on to Downing's cross in the penalty area.

Downing -- an early replacement for an injured Aaron Lennon -- scored in the 36th minute after Beqaj dropped a cross from Bentley.

The goals came after a shaky opening half hour in which Albania made a number of confident bursts forward.

But a minute before halftime, Besart Berisha found a way back into the game for Albania, getting around Ledley King and striking past Scott Carson.

After shaking off defender Blerim Rustemaj, Owen set up Downing in the 58th minute to cooly chip defender Nevil Dede and Beqaj.
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