England [ Images ] striker Michael Owen [ Images ] has given coach Steve McClaren a lift before September's Euro 2008 [ Images ] qualifiers by returning to action for club side Newcastle after recovering from a thigh problem.

Owen played 60 minutes in a friendly on Monday after missing most of pre-season as well as the side's Premier League opener at the weekend.

"I feel fine, it was only a small injury, a little niggle," Owen, who declared himself fit to face Aston Villa [ Images ] on Saturday, told the Newcastle Web site.

"It had me out for a couple of weeks but I've trained the last four or five days and I was confident I'd be fine and it was good to get back out on the pitch."

England, who face Germany [ Images ] in a friendly at Wembley on Aug. 22, will be without Manchester United [ Images ] forward Wayne Rooney [ Images ] for two months after he suffered a broken left foot on Sunday.

England also have problems in central defence following injuries to captain John Terry [ Images ] of Chelsea [ Images ], Tottenham Hotspur's [ Images ] Ledley King and Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate.

Rooney will definitely miss the two Euro 2008 qualifiers next month -- against Israel on Sept. 8 and Russia [ Images ] four days later.