TODAY is essentially D-day for Michael Owen and his World Cup hopes. The Manchester United striker’s chances of going to next summer’s finals with England receded further last week when Fabio Capello revealed he plans to name only four strikers in the squad he takes to South Africa. That leaves Owen effectively vying with Jermain Defoe for a place as back-up to Wayne Rooney. Capello’s other two forwards are likely to be target players, with Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch favourites for those berths.

Capello will announce his squad this evening for Saturday’s exhibition game against Brazil in Doha, and unless Owen is one of the four strikers in the 23, the possibility of him going to South Africa will all but disappear.

After the Brazil game, there is only one further opportunity for fringe players to stake their claims — a friendly in March — prior to the naming of England’s provisional World Cup squad in early May. It is almost inconceivable that the methodical Capello would go with Owen on the basis of only one non-competitive match.

For Owen to have any chance of being in the squad for the Brazil game, he needs to feature for Manchester United against Chelsea this afternoon and probably needs to score. Injuries to other England candidates in action today would also help his cause.

Defoe and Crouch came through their match unscathed yesterday, as did Gabriel Agbonlahor — who is also in Capello’s thinking. Though Owen has notched four goals in six starts since joining Manchester United, Capello remains sceptical about his usefulness to England.

“He played one game,” shrugged the Italian in reference to Owen’s goal against CSKA Moscow in midweek. “It will be important to see if he plays [against Chelsea]. The manager will always choose the best players. I will be at Chelsea and will check him if he plays.” Capello was at White Hart Lane yesterday watching Tottenham’s Defoe and Crouch and remains satisfied with Heskey’s club situation, even though the big striker starts infrequently for Aston Villa. An injury means Carlton Cole will not be considered for the squad for the Brazil game but Sunderland’s Darren Bent is another forward in contention. “We are following him. He’s played very well, scored goals and has improved a lot this year,” Capello said.

World Cup coaches differ on whether to take four or five strikers to tournaments but Capello signalled his intention to go with four. “I always want two players in each position, so two [target strikers] and two [smaller scorers],” he said.