Newcastle's Owen and Tottenham's Jenas to miss England friendlies

The Newcastle striker's illness meant he was unable to turn up for England duty this morning and he has been written off for both the game against the USA at Wembley on Wednesday and the trip to Trinidad and Tobago for a match the following Sunday.

Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is also out of the squad with an ankle problem.

Shooting star: Newcastle striker Michael Owen is likely to miss England's two upcoming friendlies

It is a serious blow to Owen, who has found himself used as a substitute by Capello in the Italian coach's games in charge so far after years as an automatic choice for a succession of England managers.

It is especially galling for the 28-year-old as he had finished the season in good form for Newcastle, but his absence opens up an avenue of opportunity for relatively un-tested names among the forwards in the squad to stake a claim for involvement in the World Cup qualifiers next season.

West Ham's Dean Ashton, who had been targeted by Capello's predecessor Steve McClaren as a striker worth pursuing before a serious injury cruelly intervened, is likely to be given a chance and so too will Arsenal's Theo Walcott, though whether as a striker or a winger is not yet certain.

Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe are also in the squad as well as England regulars Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch.

The nine players involved in the Champions League will report for duty tomorrow morning, but so far neither Manchester United nor Chelsea have reported any problems picked up in Moscow.

David Beckham will arrive on Sunday after his match for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Kansas City Wizards the previous evening. All the other members of Capello's squad have reported for duty and started training this morning.

Jenas did report for duty but after his ankle problem was examined by England medical staff he was sent home. A statement on www.thefa.com said: "Ahead of England's friendlies against USA and Trinidad and Tobago, the England squad has seen two changes.

"Michael Owen was unable to report due to an infectious virus and is expected to be out for both games, while Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jermaine Jenas reported with an ankle injury and has returned home. The nine players from Manchester United and Chelsea who were involved in the Champions League final in Moscow on Wednesday evening, will report for England on Saturday.

"David Beckham will report on Sunday, after LA Galaxy's game with Kansas City on Saturday."

New squad: James (Portsmouth), Hart (Man City), Kirkland (Wigan), Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), A Cole (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Jagielka (Everton), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Warnock (Blackburn), Wheater (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Tottenham), Barry (Aston Villa), Beckham (LA Galaxy), Bentley (Blackburn), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Huddlestone (Tottenham), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Walcott

(Arsenal), Young (Aston Villa), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Ashton (West Ham), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Portsmouth), Rooney (Man Utd).