Michael Owen will hopefully become the best striker in the world but we have four or five other strikers who could score goals for fun like they are doing at league level

Steve McManaman

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Saturday's crucial match against Finland will be the first time McManaman has played at Anfield since he left on a free transfer 18 months ago.

"Going back to Anfield would be a big thing for me," said McManaman, who missed England's friendly against Spain because of injury.

"I've been back a few times to visit a lot of people and a couple of times to watch the team. But to finally put on a shirt and go and play would be great.

"My last season for Liverpool was the most disappointing but only because it was probably the most injuries I'd ever had for Liverpool.

"The team lost a lot of games that year and I missed a lot of them.

Meteoric rise

"But the Liverpool fans were fantastic to me. I had total support wherever I went. My relationship with everyone involved at Liverpool then and now is fantastic."

Two of his former Liverpool team-mates are also expected to feature in the England line-up - striker Michael Owen and central midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Of Owen, McManaman said: "Michael is still a very young lad and he's had a great international career already.

"He's a fantastic prospect and will hopefully become the best striker in the world.

"But we have four or five other strikers who, if selected, will go in and score goals for fun like they are doing at league level."

Gerrard was only on the fringes of the senior squad when McManaman left but he has since had a meteoric rise at Anfield.

"He's grown in every way since I left," said McManaman.

"I trained with him a few times, but in the past couple of years he has excelled and will become even better with more games and experience."