Where did it all go wrong for England's Michael Owen?

Wide-eyed, arms stretched aloft celebrating his hat-trick against Germany seven years ago... it is the iconic image of Michael Owen’s career so far.

There was a disbelieving expression of joy on his face in that famous 5-1 win in Munich.

Seven years and two months on, that expression has been replaced by a frown as he sits on Newcastle’s bench and contemplates his international exile.

He has effectively been relegated to, at best, England’s eighth-choice striker – behind the likes of Darren Bent, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch.

Where has it all gone wrong for Michael James Owen?

From 18-year-old World Cup prodigy to 28-year-old forgotten man under Fabio Capello? Owen – the fourth highest all-time England scorer – will be toiling on the training ground at Newcastle’s HQ this week as his England team-mates once again travel to Germany.

Instead of Berlin, and a chance to relaunch his career, it is more rehab in Benton ahead of the thankless task of an away game at Chelsea at the weekend.

Can it really be possible that Owen is no longer one of the nation’s top seven strikers? Even with Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey out, he is not worthy of a call-up?

Why is it that Owen’s bosses for club and country refuse to believe in his goalscoring talents? Injuries. Fitness concerns. Form. Not fitting in with Capello’s tactical formula. Playing for a basket case of a club. Take your pick.

But Owen has answered everyone with the commodity no other England striker has delivered over such a sustained period – goals.

Since his magnificent performance in Munich, Owen has suffered injuries ranging from knee ligament damage to a broken foot, thigh strains, hamstring problems, a double hernia and even last summer a painful dose of mumps. Yet his goal record remains phenomenal.

Since his hat-trick in Munich on September 1, 2001, he has made 287 appearances for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and England, including dozens as a substitute, and has still found the net 135 times.

He has taken his England tally from 13 after Munich to 40, the last two instrumental in the demolition of Russia last season. But that counts for nothing with Capello.

Last season, despite the injury niggles, he made 40 appearances and netted 16 times. And even in a disjointed current campaign for Newcastle he has already got six. It will take time on the pitch to alleviate the injury doubts, but Capello’s tactical concerns were surely answered last season.

Under the stewardship of Kevin Keegan, Owen found a new lease of life, and more goals, playing in a deeper role at St James’ Park