MICHAEL OWEN has backed Wayne Rooney to wipe his name from the England record books - starting from tonight.

Rooney would usurp Owen as the youngest player to score an England goal if he hit the target against Slovakia at the Riverside.

But as Owen looked ahead to captaining his country in the absence of David Beckham, the Liverpool striker forecast the precocious Everton teenager would move ahead of him in the England Hall of Fame time and again.

When 23-year-old Owen walks out at Middlesbrough this evening, he will become the youngest Englishman to win 50 international caps.

At the same time, however, his status as England's youngest goalscorer - he was 18 years and 164 days when he struck against Morocco in May 1998 - is in jeopardy.

Rooney will be given the chance to open his account on his fifth appearance for the Three Lions as he starts ahead of Emile Heskey tonight.

Rooney, who is 17 years and 230 days old today, would rob Owen of that slice of history by scoring against Slovakia.

And Owen said: "I'd be delighted if Wayne breaks the record. He's probably going to break more than that record.

"There are a lot of records to be had, especially at his age. I'm setting one in this game, but Wayne could take that because he started younger than me.

"I'm sure he'll be taking a few records off me as he continues his England career."

Owen reckons he has just under a decade left at the top level after exploding on to the international scene five years ago.

While David Seaman was 39 when he last played for England last October, Owen believes his career will be much shorter because of his playing style.

He said: "Most people play until they are in their early 30s.

"The lucky ones go on a bit longer; the unlucky ones stop sooner.

"The age is getting higher now because people are looking after themselves a lot more, but I think goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders can last an awful lot longer.

"When it comes to someone like me - a striker who relies on pace and sharpness - I'm not sure how long those players go on for.

"But despite what people automatically think about me as a player, I haven't been too badly off with injuries down the years."