England v Austria: Michael Owen remains on course to be fit for England's World Cup qualifier with Austria on Saturday.
The Newcastle United striker was ruled out of the weekend Premiership clash at Portsmouth after sustaining a dead leg in a training-ground collision with Stephen Taylor.
But the former Real Madrid player underwent a fitness session with England physio Gary Lewin yesterday and is set to rejoin his team-mates in full training today.
Owen is expected to be joined by captain David Beckham who delayed linking up with the squad until this afternoon after his three-year-old son Romeo underwent hospital tests in Spain.
England will make sure of their place in the finals in Germany next summer if they overcome Austria and Holland defeat the Czech Republic.
Owen's return is will disappoint Jermain Defoe, who was hoping for the chance of an England start and the opportunity to impress England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson
Theoretically, Wayne Rooney's suspension also offers the Tottenham man an opportunity to win his 16th cap against Austria on Saturday. In practice, however, Liverpool's Peter Crouch is almost certain to be handed the task of partnering Owen as England chase the win they require.
Meanwhile, Steven Gerrard admitted he feared being dropped by Eriksson after the lowest point of his England career in the 1-0 defeat by Northern Ireland last month.
Gerrard described his recent international displays as "very average", while confessing that his central midfield partnership with Frank Lampard had "not set the world alight".
Gerrard says he was short of form and fitness ahead of the last two qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland, and his performances suffered as a result.
Asked if he had been worried about being dropped, he admitted: "I think so. Everyone who played against Northern Ireland will be worried about whether they're going to be picked for the next two games.
"It was the lowest point I've had with England. The Denmark game wasn't good either, getting beaten 4-1, but it was only a friendly.
"We can't wait until Saturday to get it out of our system."
