Speaking ahead of England's friendly clash with Serbia Montenegro on Tuesday and next week's Euro 2004 qualifier against Slovakia, Owen voiced confidence that he could form an understanding with Rooney.

The Everton teenager may not start in Tuesday's friendly having only just recovered from a knee ligament injury.

But he is certain to line up alongside Owen for next week's crucial qualifier after an outstanding display in the 2-0 win over Turkey in April.

As Owen is still only 23 and Rooney just 17, the two strikers could have a lot of England matches in front of them but it remains to be seen if their combined threat is as great as the sum of their individual talents.

"I played with Wayne against Turkey but after about ten minutes I had a knock and I was never the same really," Owen admitted.

"I had to come off in the second half so it wasn't able to link and play the game I should have been able to play because of the kick I got in my back.

"So it was hard to form a proper understanding but he did well on a personal level."

There have been suggestions that Rooney and Owen, both relatively small strikers, could be less effective a combination than pairing one of them with a more traditional target man, like Owen's Liverpool team-mate Emile Heskey.

But that theory was dismissed by Owen, who will captain the side in the absence of the suspended David Beckham.

"I don't go along with people who say two players who are too similar or too different can't play together," the Liverpool striker said.

"It's all down to play and practising with them and spending time with them.

"Some partnerships click quicker than others but I certainly think you can make it work with anyone. Whether I play with Emile Heskey or Milan Baros or anyone else, I still think I'd score around about the same goals per year.

"It's just a matter of time and if Wayne was to play then hopefully the partnership would form quite quickly."

England will go into the two matches without five first-choice players, forcing coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to reshuffle his defence and midfield.

But Owen said the mood in the England camp remained confident.

"There are always injury problems whether you are playing for your club or at international level.

"We have got a long list for these two games but I'm sure we can cope without them.

"We are playing two good footballing nations but nothing we should be afraid of. With the players we've got I'd be disappointed if we did not win on Tuesday and again the following Wednesday."