Manchester: Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Michael Owen will top his goalscoring display against Jamaica by doing even better in Saturday's World Cup opener with Paraguay.
Owen, who has made a slow recovery from a broken foot suffered on December 31, reached two important milestones in Saturday's 6-0 victory at Old Trafford.
He scored his first goal of 2006 with a classic run through Jamaica's offside trap before rounding the keeper, and played his first full 90 minutes of the year.
Owen also set up England's opener for Frank Lampard, won a late penalty that Peter Crouch squandered and provided the pass for Crouch to complete his hat-trick.
"Michael wanted to show himself, myself and the coaches he's ready for the World Cup," said Eriksson, who had been less impressed in their 3-1 friendly win over Hungary.
"His performance was much, much better than last Tuesday. "I think Michael knows his body and he's always been calculating 'the World Cup is close, I will show who Michael Owen is'.
He will probably play even better next Saturday." Eriksson was full of praise for the Newcastle United striker's all-round game.
"He made the right movements, a lot of runs into space behind the full-backs and he fought for the ball in the air even though he doesn't win many up there, and that had been only so-so last Tuesday," said the Swede.
"I think it was a quite different Michael Owen compared to five days before." As for the goal which took the striker's tally to 36 in 77 England appearances, Eriksson said: "It will help his confidence.
But he believes in himself. "He's been working very hard for a long time to be prepared for the World Cup. I'm sure about that."
After Paraguay, England continue their Group B campaign against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden.
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