Despite Owen's impressive start in setting up the only goal for Ronaldo he is behind the Brazilian and Raul in the pecking order for a starting place up front.

Fernando Morientes, who spent last season at Champions League finalists Monaco before being hauled back to the Bernabeu, is also vying for a berth in a squad with plenty of strength in depth this season.

And Owen's bid for a place in the starting line-up took another dip this week when the new coach of Spain, Luis Aragones, praised Raul as a "massively important" member of his squad.

Although the striker will unlikely feature from the start in next week's World Cup qualifier against Bosnia, Real midfielder Guti echoed the sentiment.

"I think criticism of Raul is unfair. He is the symbol of the club, and is a great captain. He's played at the top level for years and is a key member of the national side," Guti told reporters at Real's training camp just outside Madrid.

The 27-year-old Raul, all time top scorer in the Champions League with 45 goals and a driving force behind triumphs in that competition in 1998, 2000 and 2002, has come in for criticism in recent months after losing his form both at club and international level.

Real won nothing last season and the talismanic forward flopped with Spain as he and his compatriots went out in the opening phase of Euro 2004.

But according to Guti he is the man who can transform Real when fit.

"People should let him get on with things in peace. He'll soon be back to the form of previous years. Raul should always play," Guti insisted.