Shepherd: You owe us, Owen

As Shepherd takes on the striker and the FA, England coach McClaren has ignored the furore surrounding the player's medical bills arising from a cruciate injury at the World Cup to include him in the squad for the match at Burnley on May 25.

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Shepherd believes Owen should not play for England until the row with the FA over the player's medical treatment is resolved. Last week, the club's then-manager Glenn Roeder said it was "unnecessary" for Owen to face Albania.

Meetings between the parties are planned next week and there is the possibility of a compromise.

An additional annoyance for Shepherd as he tries to put the finishing touches to Sam Allardyce's induction as manager is Owen's future.

Even before his two ineffective appearances for Roeder and his sullen reaction to two defeats, the striker was linked with moves away.

Newcastle signed Owen on a contract full of clauses and there seem few incentives for him to stay, despite earning more than £100,000 a week — even when injured.

Roeder's failure to secure European football next season has unlocked the prospect of one of those clauses being used by Premiership rivals to sign him for as little as £9million — half of the fee paid to Real Madrid two years ago.

However, the chairman is adamant that Owen, who has started just 12 games, should repay Newcastle.

Shepherd said: "The loyalty this club has shown over the last two years when he had injury problems in his first season and missed all of this season deserves something in return."

Wayne Rooney is suspended and Andrew Johnson is injured so McClaren is short on forward options for the European qualifier in Estonia on June 6 and he will use the Albania game to help assess his options.

The England boss said: "Michael's return is a massive boost. Any side at international level would miss a player with his pedigree. The rest of the squad will be delighted to have Michael back as he is a proven topclass international scorer.

"He has done well to get back to fitness and I'm sure the crowd will be excited about seeing him back in an England shirt at Burnley.

"I am excited about the prospect of being able to pick him and this will be great preparation for the games with Brazil (June 1) and Estonia."

Owen is likely to start against Albania and McClaren has included stars such as Paul Robinson along with fringe players like Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker.

Manchester City's Joey Barton has been left out but included are the uncapped Phil Jagielka, Michael Dawson, Joleon Lescott, David Bentley and Nicky Shorey.

Manchester United's Alan Smith is the only player from Old Trafford, Liverpool or Chelsea to be called up because those teams are involved in the Champions League and FA Cup finals.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Ben Foster (Manchester United, on loan at Watford)

Defenders: Phil Neville (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Ledley King (Tottenham), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Nicky Shorey (Reading)

Midfielders: Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Phil Jagielka (Sheffield United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle), Scott Parker (Newcastle), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Bentley (Blackburn)

Forwards: Michael Owen (Newcastle), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Alan Smith (Manchester United), David Nugent (Preston)