LONDON, May 24 - As England wait nervously for the verdict on Wayne Rooney's broken foot, Michael Owen says he is ready to bear the striking burden at the World Cup.

Owen has played only once since suffering a similar injury on December 31 and he can expect even more responsibility if Rooney misses all or part of the tournament starting on June 9.

The 20-year-old Manchester United forward will have a scan on Thursday to assess progress since he was injured against Chelsea on April 29.

"I've always been ready," said Owen, scorer of 35 goals in 75 England appearances. "It's a responsibility you don't think about.

"I go into games quite cool in my head and it doesn't matter whether I'm in training or in a World Cup final -- I know I'll do the same thing. No situation would affect how I play.

"I'm looking forward to the World Cup. It's a massive tournament and I'm sure that I and the team are going to do ourselves justice."

Owen will get a chance to prove his sharpness on Thursday in England's 'B' international against Belarus in Reading.

"It's beneficial but if the World Cup was tomorrow I'd still feel I could play and you wouldn't notice I've been out for a while," he said.

"I don't think in training that I've lost a bit of my touch or anything else. I know where the goal is and I've been scoring a few and playing well.

NO TRIAL

"It's a nice game and an important one for a lot of players. I'm not seeing it as a test or a trial or anything like that."

Owen will start alongside Rooney's lanky understudy, Peter Crouch, and the pair are likely to be reunited in England's friendlies on May 30 against Hungary and June 3 against Jamaica.

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