Carragher puzzled by Madrid's decision

The past couple of days have hardly been dull for Jamie Carragher. If the discovery that Michael Owen would be joining Newcastle came as a disappointment to the Liverpool defender, he did not have to wait long for a reason to smile.

John Terry's injury means that Carragher is set to play England's two forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, beginning in Wales on Saturday. More than six years after his debut in Hungary, the 27-year-old is poised for his first competitive international start.

It is a measure of Carragher's experience and reliability, unmistakable during Liverpool's Champions League semi-final against Chelsea last season, that there is not the slightest concern about him standing in. Even if the opponents were Brazil there would scarcely be a murmur.

Owen is suspended in Cardiff but Carragher was happy to discuss the striker's unexpected move to St James' Park after training yesterday. His principal shock is that Real Madrid deemed his former club-mate surplus to requirements.

"Michael's a top player," he said. "You don't want to criticise a club like Real Madrid but it's unbelievable what he's done there, then he doesn't play. Robinho or (Julio) Baptista, I can't see them doing more than that - the goals he scored in the time he had.

"I don't know what it is. Maybe because he doesn't do backheels or flick it over people's heads. But he puts the ball in the back of the net and Newcastle have got one of the best around.

"When he was at Liverpool he would go through a stage when he hadn't scored for six or seven games but then he'd go and score a hat-trick. He's very mentally strong, he's a great fighter and I'm sure he'll show that at Newcastle. Him and (Alan) Shearer . . . it's going to be tough playing against them at St James' Park with the crowd behind them."

It was not hard to guess from such remarks that Carragher was disappointed Owen would not be rejoining Liverpool. "Of course," he said, "but you have to respect the players that have come in. I'm not sure if there will be a bit of criticism because we haven't signed him but we have spent a lot of money on strikers over the last two seasons: £14million on (Djibril) Cisse, £7million on (Peter) Crouch, £6million on (Fernando) Morientes.

"It's just one of those things. Maybe the timing wasn't 100 per cent right, but you have to have respect for the players at our club and hopefully they can do the damage for us."

Cisse, Crouch and Morientes still have to prove they can be consistent Premiership goalscorers: Owen has done that. "Michael's a friend of mine and I'd like to see him do well," said Carragher, "but he might be rivalling us for a European place come the end of the season so hopefully he doesn't do too well." Carragher's immediate focus is on Wales. England have the incentive not just of World Cup qualification but atoning for the 4-1 defeat in Denmark. Carragher came on at half-time in Copenhagen with the game goalless - "not too good for your CV" - and was therefore grateful to have kept his place in the squad.

David James and Glen Johnson, the only other defensive players brought on at half-time, were omitted. "When it was being picked I was watching," Carragher said, "and thankfully I was in it." Events in Denmark particularly pained Carragher because, as an England irregular, he wants to make the most of every opportunity. Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell are ahead of him in central defence and so has been the injured Ledley King.

Carragher does not feel he has produced his best for England. With 13 of his 18 caps coming as a substitute, he longs for a sustained spell in the side. Games against Wales and then Northern Ireland should provide something to try to build on.

"I haven't had a decent run for England yet," he said. "That's not a criticism of anyone - there are a lot of good players ahead of me - but it's difficult to be with England when you play the odd game now and again.

"If I get that run I'm sure I'll do a lot better because I've not really grabbed my England career with both hands, even when I've had a little chance." Though Carragher would be delighted to displace Terry he holds the Chelsea captain in the highest regard. Terry was chosen as the best defender in last season's Champions League ahead of Carragher and Milan's Paolo Maldini.

"He's younger but I look up to him," Carragher said. "He's a fantastic player, a great captain and thoroughly deserved that award." Carragher, though, got the European Cup-winners' medal. "I'm sure John Terry would swap," he said. As he would love to in Cardiff.