McClaren: Owen absence no excuse

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Owen limped out of the clash with a thigh injury and McClaren knows his top scorer will not be fit for the potentially pivotal qualifier with Croatia on Wednesday, when victory will be essential should Israel resist Russia in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

"Injuries are part of football," he reflected. "We have certainly had our fair share and not to have your best players available is not how you would choose to go into what I still believe will be the crunch game. But I am not making excuses."

With Wayne Rooney and John Terry sidelined too and Rio Ferdinand suspended, McClaren knows he will be without at least four key men at Wembley, which can hardly aid England's qualification hopes.

At times, it appears McClaren is cursed but as he left Vienna 24 hours before his side's fate is determined, the England coach still managed to put on a brave face.

But he added: "We have dealt with this type of situation before and we will do so again."

It is not hard to envisage what the reaction of Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce will be given the £18million forward ruptured cruciate ligaments on England duty at the last World Cup. However, McClaren refused to blame the freezing conditions for Owen's latest injury blow.

"The conditions were perfect," he said. "It wasn't even that cold. We trained at Arsenal on Thursday morning and it was colder than that. These things can happen."

Although Jermain Defoe is now a virtual certainty to partner Peter Crouch against Croatia, McClaren must decide whether to call in a replacement striker.

The options are not extensive, with Tottenham's Darren Bent more likely to be drafted in than England Under-21 duo Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott.