When you have to try to retrieve the game you leave yourselves open and people with the pace of Owen, McManaman and Leonhardsen can use it.”Michael has come a long way in a short time He is prepared to take on the big guys The physical side does not bother him. If teams are behind and have to chase the game and leave space you can exploit it. Owen’s pace was also a critical factor in Liverpool’s third goal, his break down the left opening up space in the middle for Leonhardsen to score.Roy Evans, the Liverpool manager, said after the game: “Pace is a wonderful thing. When Liverpool broke out to score their second goal, Owen had streaked several yards clear of Fowler to outflank the Palace defence and he ended a flowing move involving Steve McManaman, Oyvind Leonhardsen and Jamie Redknapp with a calm-as-you-like chip over the advancing Kevin Miller. The young striker tormented Andy Linighan, Hermann Hreidarsson and Paul Warhurst at the centre of the home defence, passing them almost at will.Owen’s pace could even help him to overtake his Liverpool striking partner, Robbie Fowler, in the race for England honours.

There cannot be a faster forward in the Premiership, particularly from a standing start.At Selhurst Park on Saturday Owen’s pace regularly had the Crystal Palace rearguard in panic. With Alan Shearer injured, and the form of Ian Wright and Stan Collymore so patchy, Owen surely deserves his chance alongside the likes of Andy Cole and Chris Sutton.Apart from his excellent control, vision and finishing ability, Owen has one quality – pure speed – that puts him ahead of all the other contenders for an England striker’s shirt. Now that qualification for France 98 has been secured, Hoddle has the perfect chance to experiment.It can only be hoped that Owen will form a part of England’s World Cup plans. Might they include, for example, a starring role in England’s World Cup campaign next summer?English national teams in most major sports have had a tendency to mistrust youth, but Glenn Hoddle’s promotion of Rio Ferdinand suggests that he believes in the “if they’re good enough, they’re old enough” theory. Paul Newman

Crystal Palace 0
Liverpool 3Michael Owen celebrated his 18th birthday yesterday.

You wonder what future celebrations lie in store for the fresh-faced Liverpool striker. Substitutes not used: Clarke (gk), Humphreys, Alexandersson.Referee: M Riley (Leeds).Bookings: Sheffield Wednesday: Collins, Hyde.Attendance: 24,344.Man of the match: Unsworth.. Substitutes not used: Potts, Paulo Alves, Sealey (gk).Sheffield Wednesday (3-5-2): Pressman; Nolan, Newsome, Walker; Stefanovic, Hyde (Pembridge, 57), Collins, Whittingham (Carbone, 69), Rudi; Di Canio, Booth. On their travels, however, it is a different matter: West Ham have lost more away games – eight – than any other team in the Premiership.Perhaps with Kitson back on board, West Ham’s own wheels will begin to roll.Goal: Kitson (68) 1-0.West Ham United (3-4-1-2): Forrest; Unsworth, Ferdinand, Pearce; Impey (Breacker, 77), Rowland, Lomas, Lampard; Berkovitch; Kitson (Abou, 82), Hartson.