Michael Owen has made rapid progress in shaking off his back problem and is likely to be available for England's World Cup qualifier with Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday.

He had expected to spend yesterday morning working under the supervision of the England physiotherapist Gary Lewin, but then found he was able to join the full squad.

"He is expected to complete a full session tomorrow and it looks like he will be fine for Saturday," confirmed FA spokesman Adrian Bevington.

Sven-Goran Eriksson is faced with a delicate decision. The manager, conscious of Owen's record, would usually incline towards selecting him, but the Real Madrid striker has missed part of the build-up for the Wales game at a time when his form has declined.

Jermain Defoe is the likely alternative, and Owen said he approved of the combination of Wayne Rooney and the young Tottenham striker.

"If I don't make it, I know England will be in safe hands with the other players and that includes Jermain," Owen told London's Evening Standard. "Some people might believe that a partnership of Jermain and Wayne Rooney lacks experience. But Wayne has already got a European Championship under his belt and Jermain has had a taste of England and also played in some other big games."

Eriksson also has to consider his central defence, but he is likely to reinstate Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand at the expense of John Terry and Ledley King.

Meanwhile, John Toshack is emerging as the favourite to succeed Mark Hughes as manager of Wales, although there are seven candidates, according to the Football Association of Wales (FAW).

Ian Rush, Gary Speed, Brian Flynn, Gerard Houllier and Philippe Troussier are among the others, along with one unknown candidate.

Hughes steps down after the game against Poland in Cardiff next Wednesday and the FAW then has until next March before Wales's next competitive games, against Austria in Cardiff and Vienna. The FAW board is expected to meet on October 28th and will recommend interviews from there.

Rush has impressed the FAW with his work with the Wales under-17s, but the 42-year-old possesses nothing like the experience of the 55-year-old Toshack.

"Toshack is high on the list," an FAW member was reported as saying, "but it all depends on the interviews. The interviews will be the deciding factor."

After a 24-year managerial career, which began at Swansea, Toshack is out of work. He managed Real Madrid to the Spanish league title in 1989 but has not had so many highlights at the likes of St Etienne and Real Betis.

Toshack has upset some in the Wales squad with his criticism of them in his role as a television pundit and newspaper columnist. There are also those within the FAW who remember how Toshack walked away from the Wales job after one game a decade ago.

Speed, who harbours managerial ambitions, is also among the favourites for the position. He has taken one of the two requisite UEFA badges and is expected to complete the other soon.

But he has just signed a two-year contract at Bolton and, at 35, feels he can play Premiership football until the end of next season.

Meanwhile, Hughes has been hit by the withdrawal of two more players from his squad for the qualifiers with England and Poland.

Striker Gareth Taylor and midfielder Andy Johnson have been ruled out with knee and back injuries respectively.

This follows the withdrawal of defender Robert Page who has returned to his club, Cardiff, for treatment on cracked ribs.

The absence of Johnson will be a major blow to Hughes as the West Brom player had been a candidate to replace the suspended Robbie Savage.