McClaren is hanging onto his job, but defeat will certainly put a spanner in the works.
Owen To Save McClaren From Sack?
With 37 goals to his name, Owen currently lies sixth on the all-time England list, 12 adrift of record marksman Sir Bobby Charlton.
McClaren would settle for a single strike from the 27-year-old against the Israelis, provided, of course, it was the winner.
McClaren: "Michael has looked sharper with every day.
"Never mind the work he does outside the box and who he needs to play with, the main thing Michael brings us is goals at vital times.
"There have been so many times when we have not looked like scoring and all of a sudden he has glanced one in at the near post or nicked one off his shin.
"He is always on the spot and what we must do is get the ball into areas where Michael is at his best."