Michael Owen has insisted he is still as good as ever. Many critics claim the Manchester United striker is a shadow of the player who terrorised Premier League defences week in, week out during his time with Liverpool. But Owen, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, is confident he will silence them by delivering the goods at Old Trafford. The 29-year-old said: "I am not slower now than I was seven, eight years ago. No chance. "With the hamstring problems early in my career, they knocked a yard off my pace. "But since then I have been the same player and if anything I have improved. "Game awareness is a good word for it. A lot of it is so instinctive it's hard to put down. "It is your experience taking you into areas. I'm only 29 and I'm not past it." Owen admits being continually left out of the England squad is hard to take after 40 goals in 89 caps. But he refuses to give up hope of convincing Fabio Capello to pick him. Owen added: "It's not an easy squad to get into with the results the team are getting at the minute. "However, I'm as passionate as ever about extending my time with England." Source: The Sun