THE weight of the country's hopes might be resting on his shoulders, but a bullish Michael Owen last night insisted he was relishing the pressure that will accompany his international comeback over the next two weeks.

Owen, who has made just three domestic appearances since rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in last summer's World Cup finals, will pull on an England shirt for the first time in almost a year when Steve McClaren's 'B' side take on Albania at Burnley's Turf Moor this evening.

Tonight's friendly, which precedes next Friday's Wembley showcase with Brazil, begins the build-up to June 6's crucial European Championships qualifier in Estonia, a game that has become a must-win encounter following disappointing results in both Croatia and Israel.

With Wayne Rooney suspended for the match in Tallinn, and Everton striker Andy Johnson also ruled out because of injury, the 27-year-old striker has become England's likeliest match-winner as they desperately attempt to get their qualification campaign back on track.

Such high expectations do not sit easily with Owen's uninspiring performances in a Newcastle shirt in the final month of the season, a trio of below-par displays that suggested his rehabilitation remained at an early stage.

But while the fit-again frontman refused to placate the fears of the Newcastle faithful yesterday, fuelling rumours that he is seeking a St James' Park exit following Freddy Shepherd's inflammatory recent comments, he was quick to reassure England supporters they are right to put their faith in his ability.

"I want this kind of expectation, that's the life I live," said Owen.

"I have expectations of myself because I want to make myself, and my friends and family, proud. But I also want to make the country happy and winning football matches does that. It makes this country a better place.

"This game is no different to many of the other big matches that I've been involved with. I like the pressure and I want there to be something on the game.

"I'm going into the game under pressure, but I think my best performances have always come when there's been a lot riding on what happens."

Eleven months ago, when Owen was being stretchered from the Rhein Energie Stadion in Cologne, even a non-pressurised England return looked a forlorn expectation.

The striker faced a ten-month recovery from a knee problem that threatened to end his career.

The road to recovery has been both long and tortuous, but as he prepares to re-enter the international arena that Newcastle fans have long suspected him to prioritise ahead of his domestic concerns, Owen maintains he is an improved footballer to the one carried out of a World Cup campaign that eventually ended in tatters for all concerned.

"When you have a bad injury, you have two choices," said the striker, who, along with club-mate Kieron Dyer, met Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce in the England team hotel on Wednesday night. "You can either sulk or you can get the bit between your teeth and think, 'Right, I'm going to come back stronger and better than ever'.

"I was getting in before anyone else was getting in, and was leaving when it was dark at night and everybody else had already left.

"I wanted to feel that I was doing more than anybody else could ever do for a cruciate injury. It's impossible that I could have done any more, and I'm really feeling the benefits of that now.

"Hopefully, all of the work and training has made me harder to play against. I feel confident in my rehab and how I feel, and I know that the injury hasn't taken anything away from my game. I still feel as fit and strong as ever, and I still have complete confidence in my ability."

That ability has rarely been in greater demand, either in a club or international setting. On the Premiership stage, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are all understood to be considering triggering the £9m get-out clause inserted into Owen's contract when he made a £16m move from Real Madrid in 2005.

And, in the international arena, under-pressure England boss Steve McClaren is desperately hoping the country's fourth highest-goalscorer of all time can inspire a significant improvement from his last managerial outing.

McClaren was roundly criticised by a significant section of the England support as his side toiled to a 3-0 victory over Andorra in March, a game that also saw a number of players barracked from the terraces.

A rehabilitating Owen did not travel to Barcelona's Olympic Stadium, but admits watching the scenes unfold from his own living room was a far from pleasant experience.

"The players were taking stick, and that always sad to see," he said. "Even from my armchair it all looks very easy, but I can assure you when you cross that white line, it's always very difficult.

"International football is evolving. Everyone is tactically aware and the days of England beating Turkey 13-0 at Wembley are long gone.

"It's tough all over Europe now but, having said that, we know there's not much room for slip-ups any more if we want to qualify for the European Championships.