LONDON - MICHAEL Owen believes that all the ingredients are there for him to keep scoring for England.

Giving his strongest endorsement of coach Steve McClaren's personnel changes yet, the striker is convinced that he has been given the best conditions to help his team win tomorrow's vital Euro 2008 tie with Russia.

Said the Newcastle player: 'We haven't played well over the years, but the Israel game was the one where I could look everyone in the eye and say I'm proud to be part of that performance.'

His positive declaration, however, gives McClaren a delicate problem, as those that had provided such astute service to Owen were not his first-choice players.

Injuries and suspensions had forced the England coach to field Emile Heskey, Gareth Barry, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Micah Richards - the same quartet who had impressed most in Israel win.

Heskey's physical approach kept the defenders occupied, while Wright-Phillips whipped in plenty of testing crosses, along with England's other winger, Joe Cole.

Richards provided muscular overlapping play down the right wing, while Barry was assured in his defensive midfield role.

These helped Owen play his most productive game for England for several years, as he scored a brilliant goal from outside the penalty area.

He rates that strike as the third best of his 38 England goals, behind his famous effort against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, and a long-range finish against Luxembourg a year later.

He said: 'I thought we had a good balance. Joe played well, and Shaun played really well.

'I feel fine. I've played plenty of games already this season. I'll play better, and I'm in a position where I'll take responsibility for getting the goals.'

He had asked McClaren to pair him with Heskey, because he believes the Wigan forward offers the perfect counterpoint to his predatory instincts.

However, with Peter Crouch back from suspension for the Russia game, McClaren must decide whether to keep faith with Heskey, who has helped Owen score 12 times in the 13 matches the pair have played together in England colours.

There is no doubt who Owen would choose - if the decision were down to him.

He said: 'We weren't worried about whether we would click or not.

'I know what I'm going to get from Emile, and he can be a real weapon in certain games.

'Obviously, there is competition for places, but I've played with him many times. In some of those games, he was unstoppable when he was on form.'

While Owen thrived on Heskey's presence, it was Barry who set up two of England's goals.

His precise pass set up Owen's strike, and the Aston Villa captain also whipped in the corner for Richards' goal.

For a player who last started a match for England seven years ago, seeing him produce the kind of influential performance that often seems beyond some of his more illustrious peers was amazing.

Barry admitted that he thought his international career was over. Instead, he is giving McClaren a selection headache, should Owen Hargreaves recover from injury in time for tomorrow's match.

He said: 'I didn't know I was playing until the last minute, but I got my head right to start the game.

'It just goes to show that you can never give up. I knew I was still playing well enough.

'That is all you can do, put your name in the frame and play as well as you can.

'So, especially with the injuries at the moment, it does give the manager another option.'

Vice-captain Steven Gerrard, however, has cautioned his teammates against being complacent.

He said: 'We've got the first job done, and we have to quickly get our minds set on Russia because I'm sure that they will be tougher.

'We won't get carried away.'

He had played against Israel despite a broken toe, and his club Liverpool must have heaved a sigh of relief that he came through the match unscathed.

AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS