OWEN Hargreaves set his sights on scoring his first professional goal in the World Cup as Sven-Goran Eriksson prepared to put the midfielder at the heart of his plans against Sweden tomorrow.

Hargreaves is lined up to partner Paul Scholes in central midfield as one of three 21-year-olds in the side, along with Darius Vassell and Ashley Cole.

Hargreaves sees the fact he has not scored in senior football as an "irony" because "shooting is actually one of the strongest parts of my game".

He added: "I know I can score goals and I've always had that capability. I've just been saving them for the World Cup!