Owen Hargreaves is close to a return to action for Manchester United having missed the entirety of his side’s championship-winning exploits last season through injury. Arguably England’s player of the tournament at the 2006 World Cup, is there still a place for him in the United and England set up after such a long period on the sidelines?
The player himself is confident he can return “better than ever” after 13 months out. However, it is rare that players return to their best after such long period on the sidelines, especially given the severity of the injury. Hargreaves has had two operations to cure a tendinitis problem in both knees and it was feared he would have to quit top-level football.
Those fears would appear premature however, and Hargreaves seems desperate to return to the United team to prove why Sir Alex Ferguson paid £17 million for his services from Bayern Munich in July 2007. At 28 years old, Hargreaves still has time to add to his array of honours, with Bundesliga, Premier League and Champions League titles to his name already.
Getting back to full fitness is one thing, getting back a regular place in the United side is quite another. However, Hargreaves does have some cause for hope. United’s central midfield has looked far from indomitable so far this season and there is room for the Canadian-born midfielder to stake a claim for a regular place.
Of his contenders, Darren Fletcher appears to be the only permanent fixture in Ferguson’s mind. Michael Carrick seems to have fallen out of favour, Paul Scholes is being used more sparingly in his twilight years, whilst Anderson continues to look less than convincing. Hargreaves chances would be further enhanced with an injury to one or more of this trio.
And what about his international career? Having emerged with more credit than most from the last World Cup, he was voted England Player of the Year 2006 after an initially frosty reception from some fans. However, he has not had a chance to play for his country under Fabio Capello (his last appearance came in the friendly against the US in May 2008) and time is running out for him to stake his claim ahead of this summer’s tournament.
His earliest opportunity to show his worth at international level will be a friendly against as yet undecided friendly opposition in March. Gareth Barry will be looking anxiously over his shoulder, and even if he doesn’t usurp the Manchester City man in the starting XI, he would be a useful squad player to take to the tournament. He offers Capello some versatility in that he can cover in the problematic right-back position, and is a dead ball specialist.
It has been a long road to recovery for Hargreaves, and the next few months could prove to be career defining. Should he stay free from further injury, he could find himself back in the United side and back in the England reckoning. He certainly has the skill to do so, as well as the hunger after such a long period out, he will just be praying he gets the luck he deserves as well.
TweetLike this article? Please like The Football Blog on Facebook:
As a Manchester United supporter, I am looking forward to seeing Hargreaves return because, as you point out, Fletcher aside, we’re lacking consistent quality in the midfield department (your assessment of Carrick, Anderson and Scholes is pretty much spot on).
For a few games, it will be a bit like watching your best mate attempting to walk a tightrope without a safety net though as you just hope he makes it across without falling because you really do feel that Owen is in last-chance saloon at his age and any kind of recurrence of the injury would probably spell the end of his career.
hear about him to play again make my both knee feel shaky thinking about the op he had made.he is my fav player.i really hope he go straight into the team.i hope he doesnt neet long time to get back to his fitness.