WHEN it comes to Wayne Rooney, words now escape me. For an 18-year-old he is simply breathtaking. Awesome. World class.

At last England has a real working class hero who doesn't ponce about in sarongs wearing diamond earrings.

If only Michael Owen was chipping in, we might even have a chance of winning this thing!

The England striker's contribution has been pretty poor in England's three games, even though there was the occasional flash of what he is capable of in last night's 4-2 win over Croatia.

Michael Owen at his best peels off defenders and never gives them a moment's peace - something that Darius Vassell seems well capable of doing whenever he's introduced from the bench.

Michael Owen at his worst contributes very little if his name is not on the scoresheet. It's as if he needs a big man like Emile Heskey alongside him, rather than the like-minded, if wholly different Rooney.

However, I'd rather play Sven up front than Heskey, so maybe the Swede should think about a switch for Thursday's do-or-die quarter final clash against the home nation.

Vassell has had to wait patiently in the wings - stuck with the tag of being an impact player who can leap off the bench to change the team's fortunes.

I would seriously think of pulling a fast one and playing a Rooney/Vassell combination to frighten the life out of Portugal.

It's the last thing Figo and Co would expect and would add a new zest to the England attack.

And who is to say that Owen cannot be that impact player from the bench later when Portuguese legs are tiring?

I don't think for a single minute Sven will change things, given the fact England are the leading scorers in the tournament.

We already have the best midfield quartet of all the remaining teams - including France.

Imagine what we could achieve if both strikers were scoring?