Nice one, son, says chuffed Arsenal legend

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The goal was sweet redemption for the Chelsea winger, who has struggled for form and for his club place.

On our way: Wright-Phillips celebrates his opener against Israel

But his father, who grabbed goals aplenty for Arsenal and England and watched the game as a BBC television pundit, said: "I am just so chuffed. It's been two-and-a-half years of trying to keep him going. "I had to reinforce the fact that he has ability. His problem was that when he was playing well or playing badly at Chelsea he was being taken off, and that's hard for a player who needs to be out on the pitch. I just say to him 'you've got to keep going', but he's in a team of world-class players and it's not going to be easy."

Michael Owen will probably never eclipse that astonishing goal for England against Argentina at France 98 when he was just 18, but he came close to it yesterday with a superb half-volley from around 20 yards which made it 2-0 just after half time.

With England needing to reinforce their lead and secure three precious qualifying points, Owen took full advantage of Gareth Barry's precise pass forward.

It was Owen's 38th goal for England, 11 short of Sir Bobby Charlton's record,and came on his 84th appearance as he continues his rehabilitation from the knee ligament damage he suffered against Sweden at last year's World Cup finals and which kept him out for a year.

Owen's strike and Micah Richards' first goal for his country confirmed the first part of England's job done, with the second — and much trickier — challenge for Steve McClaren's men against Russia at Wembley on Wednesday.

England are third in the group, behind Croatia and Guus Hiddink's Russia side, who won 3-0 at home to Macedonia. Russia striker Alexander Kerzhakov, who plays in Spain for Sevilla, scored their third goal yesterday and warned: "If you analyse the group, it is England who should be scared. The Wembley match is a huge chance for us to land a decisive blow and I truly believe we have an opportunity to win."