Irish Bookmaker PaddyPower has cut the odds for Michael Owen to make it to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello’s England squad next year. Following his Champions League hat-trick last night the Manchester United striker is now 2/1 from 10/3 to be part of Fabio Capello’s World Cup Squad. However the Irish online bookmaker also offers a reality check to the Owen bandwagon with seven other strikers all at shorter odds to be in the squad than United’s number seven.

Barring injury Wayne Rooney is a shoo-in for the squad at just 1/100 with Jermain Defoe also looking a certainty at 1/14. Owen’s likely rivals for a spot in the 23 could come from the likes of Carlton Cole, Gabby Agbonlahor (both 6/4) and Darren Bent (7/4).

Darren Haines, spokesman for PaddyPower, said: “It was a great night for Owen, obviously his best yet in a United shirt, but we still think he has a lot more work to do to convince a doubting Fabio of his worth and climb the England striker pecking order.”

The bookmaker also has Owen on offer at 28/1 to be England’s top scorer in South Africa, with Rooney again heading the market at 13/8.