Money well spent

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

Hargreaves out of EC squad

 

Owen Hargreaves has been left out of Manchester United's Champions League squad for the remainder of the season.

 

The move almost certainly ends any chance the midfielder had of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad and raises fresh doubts over his chances of making a full recovery from double knee surgery in October 2008.

 

Last month Sir Alex Ferguson stated his intention to pick Hargreaves in his 25-man European squad. But Uefa have confirmed the former Bayern Munich player is not among the men United will rely on in their quest to reach a third successive final.

 

Plagued by a tendinitis problem since before his £18m move to Old Trafford in 2007, Hargreaves finally accepted the need for surgery last season. He was closely monitored by the renowned Colorado-based knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman until his return to United's Carrington training base in September.

 

At that point, Ferguson was hopeful Hargreaves would feature in the final two matches of the Champions League group phase. Instead, potential comeback dates kept getting pushed back, with Ferguson citing a lack of confidence from the player himself for a slower than expected recovery.

 

Ferguson's latest fitness bulletin about the midfielder confirmed he was training with the first team for part of the week.

 

Still there has been no return to match action and the latest news – which rules him out of the knockout round fixtures with Milan later this month – will only bring fresh doubt over Hargreaves's chances of rediscovering the form that saw him named England's player of the World Cup in Germany four years ago.

 

 

37 games since 2007 is ok isn't it?

[Zoob]

Hargreaves out of EC squad

 

 

 

 

37 games since 2007 is ok isn't it?

 

18 million quid for 18 league starts. Bargain

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Thank gawd he didn't fall into Rafa's clutches

[Coyler]

...with Ferguson citing a lack of confidence from the player himself for a slower than expected recovery.

Masterful man-management.

[Dmitch]

we should offer United 10P for him and sign up Kewells agent to look after his best interests!

[muleskinner]

Fantastic work by Bayern Munich.

[Atticus Finch]

Fantastic work by Bayern Munich.

 

He had dodgy knees there didn't he - thought he had a pretty poor appearance record at Bayern? Which makes you wonder why there isn't more comment on the £18m wasted on him. IIRC he is out of contract in the summer and you would have to think they won't offer him a new one.

 

As you excellent business by Bayern.

[Kahnee]

He had dodgy knees there didn't he - thought he had a pretty poor appearance record at Bayern? Which makes you wonder why there isn't more comment on the £18m wasted on him. IIRC he is out of contract in the summer and you would have to think they won't offer him a new one.

 

As you excellent business by Bayern.

 

Read somewhere that he's got the option of a further year - and the option is his to take, not the club's. Genius bit of negotiating, that