SVEN-Goran Eriksson believes it would be "good for England" if Michael Owen signs for Manchester United.

The England striker, who was not a first-team regular at Real Madrid last season, has dropped even further down the Bernabeu pecking order following the summer arrivals of Brazilian pair Robinho and Julio Baptista.

Real Madrid are prepared to let him go and Owen revealed he has been had "brief dialogue with three or four Premiership clubs" about a possible return to the Barclays Premiership.

Eriksson has a clear preference where he would like Owen to play his football.

"What I read, what I have heard is that it might be a possibility that Manchester United takes him and as England coach I should not complain if that is the case," said Eriksson.

"For him to work every day with Wayne Rooney can only make England better.

"Michael Owen has been a great player for many years wherever he has played - Liverpool or Real Madrid. For the big games he is always there and he has scored 32 goals for England. That is a lot and he is just 25 years old. He is still young. We forget that sometimes.

"If I was manager of a big club in England I would go for Michael Owen, that is for sure."

Real Madrid have told Owen they would like him to stay at the Bernabeu but will not stand in his way if the right offer comes in from England.

Newcastle are believed to be one of the four clubs Owen has spoken to, with manager Graeme Souness admitting on Tuesday that the 25-year-old was "the type of player we need to be attracting to this club".

Would an Owen-Rooney partnership solve United's goalscoring problems? Have your say.