FORMER England striker Peter Beardsley believes recent criticism directed at Michael Owen has been 'unfair'.

Owen was gradually building up his fitness levels prior to Tuesday's World Cup game with Sweden, when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury.

And his two below-par performances against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago had critics suggesting he was not the player he once was.

But Beardsley hit back at the sceptics on the United striker's behalf.

He said: "Michael has been England's best goalscorer since Alan Shearer retired and he's taken some unfair criticism.

"That's probably what's most frustrating for him right now. Obviously it's frustrating when you're injured but it's even more frustrating that he can't put right what people think has gone wrong.

"Him and Rooney as a pair have been outstanding, and have forged an understanding a bit like Gary (Lineker) and I did when we played for England.

"Michael's already into his third World Cup and I'd be shocked if he didn't make a fourth, so he's lucky in some respects but football's cruel sometimes.

"He had a great 1998 World Cup, coming on and scoring against Romania and then the wonder goal against Argentina, and scored in Japan against Brazil (in 2002).

"It would have been nice for him to have scored before he got injured so he'd scored in three World Cups."

Beardsley has experienced at first hand when an injury has brought a premature end to one of England's most pivotal players. In 1986 and 1990, influential skipper Bryan Robson had to go home early after suffering from a dislocated shoulder in the first tournament and an Achilles problem in the following one.

Yet Beardsley reckons the injury galvanised the squad and says he expects the same thing to happen in Owen's case this time too.

"It almost brings you closer together," reflected the Newcastle Academy coach. "The mentality for us was 'let's win it for Pop'.

"Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand have almost come out and said the same about Michael. They can't help his situation but it would be nice to get Michael Owen a winner's medal.''