My quotes on Capello were taking completely out of context, insists angry Owen

The Newcastle striker was left on the bench for Capello's first match in charge against Switzerland in January and was a half-time substitute in the 1-0 defeat to France on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who has scored 40 goals for England, was quoted by a number of national newspapers on Friday morning claiming he did not know what his role was in Paris.

But Owen insists his reply was to a question about his role for England in the future.

"That's been misconstrued as to mean 'you'll have to ask the manager what my role is when I came on to play'," he said. "Of course I knew my role and everything else when I stepped on to the field.

"Obviously it's come out in the press like this but I've never been critical of the management. To make it look like I was criticising the new manager was totally wrong and I'm very disappointed.

"These comments could easily be misconstrued when we win games but no-one wants to do it then. If we lose then you're open to anything.

"It's frustrating, having not said anything in the first place, you've got to come out and retract and say your version of the story.

"The technology we've got nowadays it's probably all over the world - Owen having a go at Capello. It's going to be a topic of conversation when it's a non-story."

Owen has been an England regular, when fit, for the last 10 years, but he insists he will not lose patience if he continues to find himself on the bench.

He continued: "It's a team game, no-one knows that more than me, I've always been a team player.

"Only the manager knows what team he wants to play, what formations he wants to play, all I can do is do my best. I've never been one to throw my toys out of the pram.

"I've started my share of England games over the years - I'm very proud of my England record and I'll continue to give of my best every time I pull on the shirt, whoever the manager is."

England's performance in France, where they failed to create a single clear-cut chance, has been roundly criticised, but Owen felt the team matched their illustrious opponents and he is optimistic for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

"First half, I was watching the game and I didn't think they really entered our half, let alone our penalty box too many times," he said.

"It seemed we were dominating. Okay, we weren't creating chances but nor were there.

"In the second half, when you're 1-0 down against a team full of world champions, you've got to almost force the game.

"I thought it was a good game, I thought we acquitted ourselves well. By no means did they dominate us.

"We've got plenty of time to prepare for the next qualification campaign and I think we're moving in the right direction."

Capello tried two different formations in Paris, with Steven Gerrard supporting Wayne Rooney as a lone striker in the first half before a switch to 4-4-2, and Owen believes the experimentation could pay dividends in the autumn.

"All these different combinations are to be tried," said the former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward.

"They've been tried by previous managers and they're to be tried by this manager until he finds what he believes is the best formation and the best players to play in it.

"It's never been any different. We're in that process now, only this time we've got a bit more time to maybe try a few things out."

Owen scored four goals in the failed Euro 2008 qualifying campaign after missing several games through injury, and he is confident he will be back among the goals - if he gets a run in the side.

"I've got to get into the team and play well enough at club level to get into the team. If I'm playing regularly, I'll score goals," he added.