Sven-Goran Eriksson insists he has never seen Michael Owen in such red-hot form.

Eriksson has been impressed by the sharpness of the Newcastle striker since the World Cup squad met last week.

Owen will captain England's B team against a Belarus side on Thursday, where he will start up front with Peter Crouch.

Eriksson wants to give vital match-practice to Owen, who has played only 30 minutes of competitive football since breaking his foot on New Year's Eve.

He also wants the £16m Newcastle man to work on his partnership with Crouch because they could form England's strikeforce in the first game of the World Cup finals, against Paraguay.

Eriksson said: ''We will probably play Peter Crouch and Michael Owen up front because Michael needs games.

''I'm not worried about Michael. From what I saw last week in training, I am very happy with him.

''In training, he was excellent and when we played he was absolutely on fire.

''I don't think I've seen Michael Owen in such good shape for many years.

''He will start the game and it would be good for him if he could play 90 minutes.''

Owen and Crouch linked up well against Argentina last year.

Crouch came off the bench and helped Owen scored twice as England fought back from behind to dramatically win 3-2.

Eriksson has already admitted Owen and Crouch would be his likely strikeforce if Wayne Rooney fails to recover from his broken foot in time for the Paraguay game.

This could change in the warm-up games. England have friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica but first is the B game against Belarus at Reading's Madejski Stadium.

Theo Walcott, the shock inclusion when Eriksson named his World Cup squad a fortnight ago, will appear as a substitute against Belarus.

Eriksson said: ''Maybe he will not start but the plan is for him to come on at some stage in the game.''

The England boss views the B international as a chance to blood the newcomers to the England squad and to give match-practice to those returning from injury.

Eriksson confirmed he would like to start with rookie wingers Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing on Thursday.

Tottenham's Lennon is uncapped and Middlesbrough's Downing has played once for the senior England team.

He also wants Arsenal duo Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell to play because they are also on the comeback trail after long injury lay-offs.

Senior England players Paul Robinson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Gary Neville will not feature.

Stand-by players Andrew Johnson, Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson and Scott Carson will be considered.

Eriksson said: ''The stand-by players will be involved in one way or another but those who played week-in week-out all season, they do not have to play.

''It's very good for all of the players, especially for Michael Owen, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell. They will probably start on Thursday, all three of them.''

Spurs defender Dawson was called in as a stand-by after Luke Young was forced out with an ankle injury.

Eriksson said: ''I saw him many times this season and he is getting better and better. It's a good opportunity to be with a young squad for two weeks, maybe more.''

Stand-by midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker has withdrawn from the squad to be replaced by Phil Neville.

The uncapped West Ham skipper has been troubled by a persistent back problem.

He was forced out of training yesterday and it was decided afterwards that he should pull out of the squad.

Everton utility man Neville will report to the England training base in Hertfordshire this morning.