Owen Hargreaves Fitness Battle

[Noucamp99]

Yeah. We had another Hargo thread and we talked about that there. It's closed now, but you can still view it here:
https://manutdpeople.com/Thread-Hargreav...ack?page=6

[Bennthered]

cheers mate! ill have a scan thro!!

[Phil-M.U.F.C.]

There definitely is a confidence issue with Hargo.

[Noucamp99]

Poor man. I reckon he needs a visit from smudger to tell him what he went through, even though he's playing in the championship now. He must have suffered and gone through the same, eh?

[RambleOnRed]

Report: Manchester United Remove Owen Hargreaves From Champions League Squad

Only a report thus far, but very odd as SAF mentioned the whole AC Milan thing only a couple of days ago.

Source: Goal.com

Owen Hargreaves' bid to make a long-awaited return to action has been dealt a hammer blow, as The Times reports that Manchester United have axed the midfielder from their Champions League roster.

The former Bayern Munich star has not played in over 16 months - his last outing came against Chelsea back in September 2008 - due to a severe tendinitis problem that has required surgery on both knees.

He was included in the Red Devils' squad for the Champions League group stage, but setback after setback has prevented the 29-year-old from making any sort of on-field contribution this term.

Sir Alex Ferguson recently revealed that he expected Hargreaves to be right in the mix for the upcoming knock-out tie against AC Milan, but now there are fears that he might not grace the pitch at all before season's end.

This bodes ill for the Canadian-born anchorman's chances of making England's World Cup squad, as Fabio Capello - while a self-confessed fan of Hargreaves - has made it clear that only fully fit players will be heading to South Africa.

[Noucamp99]

According to the Daily Mirror and reported on the United website today, Hargo (obviously) has to prove his fitness. That makes sense. I think maybe goal.com have jumped the gun a wee bit, maybe?

Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Owen Hargreaves to prove his fitness and land a place on the flight to Milan in 12 days' time. Hargreaves is back in training at Carrington following surgery on both knees in December 2008 and January 2009. He is alternating between working with the first team and the reserves and Ferguson has told him he will take him to Italy for the Champions League showdown with AC Milan on February 16 if he complete a full week's training. Ferguson's words are massive encouragement for the injury-plagued England midfielder, who has not played since September 2008. The United boss said: "I would like to see him make the squad for the Champions League fixtures against AC Milan, but we won't rush him. We are being patient with the rehabilitation following his knee operations and he is alternating his training with the reserve and first-team squads, working for two days and then resting a day.”

Source: manutd.com/daily mirror

[RambleOnRed]

Very possible with goal.com they tend to do it often. Their transfer news in the summer was crap too

[Noucamp99]

Take their stuff with a pinch of salt, eh?

[Bennthered]

LOLCONFLICTING STORIES ALL OVER THE PLACE REG. HARGO!
lets hope the good ones are true and hes on his way back! such a cultured player would fit nicely into our midfield and would give the side a massive boost like a new signing!

[Noucamp99]

You ain't kidding there are conflicting reports! Now the poor lad has been replaced in the CL squad by Ritchie De Laet:

Owen Hargreaves' World Cup hopes are in doubt after being left out of Manchester United's squad for the UEFA Champions League knock-out stages.

The England midfielder has not played since September 2008 and was expected to return from double knee surgery last August, hence he was named in United's squad for the group stages.

But the 29-year-old has now been out for 16 months and is still struggling to regain fitness, so United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has promoted young Belgian defender Ritchie De Laet to the knock-out squad instead.

England boss Fabio Capello had been willing to give the former Bayern Munich man, who has won 42 caps, as much time as possible to prove his fitness in time for this summer's World Cup.
Setback

Ferguson's decision to omit the Canada-born player shows he does not expect him back this season, though.

Hargreaves has been treated by renowned American surgeon Dr Richard Steadman but did not return from his Colorado base until mid-September.

Ferguson hoped he would be fit for United's final three Champions League group games yet although Hargreaves came through a behind-closed-doors match unscathed last month, the manager has alluded to "confidence" issues blocking his return to first-team action.

When Hargreaves joined United from Bayern in the summer of 2007, he signed a three-year deal with the option of another year.

The option is on Hargreaves' side and United have made no attempt to review the contract so they expect the £19million signing to remain at Old Trafford until June 2011.

Source: skysports.com


I've also renamed this thread to reflect the current state of play...