06-02-2010, 11:58 AM
After the news that Hargo was dropped from the Champions League squad, SAF has gone on record saying that he feels Owen could make the World Cup squad!!
(I know, this kind of should be under Internationals, but it's about his fitness battle, too)
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Owen Hargreaves could still force his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
The Manchester United and England midfielder has not played in the past 18 months after undergoing surgery in a bid to cure tendinitis in both his knees.
Red Devils boss Ferguson elected to leave the former Bayern Munich man out of his UEFA Champions League squad this week.
But he still believes that Hargreaves can get enough football under his belt before the end of the campaign to earn an international recall for the finals in South Africa.
"Owen could still be an important player for England," said Ferguson.
"It is not like Ledley King. If he comes back the confidence would come back. If he started playing the confidence would be the key factor."
Hargreaves has not played for United since September 2008, when he finally decided to undergo revolutionary knee surgery in American to try to cure a chronic tendinitis problem that dates back to his time at Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old eventually returned to United's Carrington training base 12 months later after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation programme under the guidance of world renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman.
At the time, it was thought Hargreaves would be back in action by November but that deadline was missed and so have others Ferguson subsequently put in place.
Yet Ferguson insists the bad news need not necessarily prove terminal and that Hargreaves could still play a major role this season.
"Our physios are doing their best and sometimes we feel he is almost there, then it seems to be slow again," he said.
"But I am confident he will be back before the end of the season.
"The biggest incentive should be to get back into our team but if at the end of it there is the carrot of being in the World Cup then I will be happy with that."
Source: skysports.com
I will never tire of saying: "Get well soon, Hargo!".
(I know, this kind of should be under Internationals, but it's about his fitness battle, too)
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Owen Hargreaves could still force his way into Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.
The Manchester United and England midfielder has not played in the past 18 months after undergoing surgery in a bid to cure tendinitis in both his knees.
Red Devils boss Ferguson elected to leave the former Bayern Munich man out of his UEFA Champions League squad this week.
But he still believes that Hargreaves can get enough football under his belt before the end of the campaign to earn an international recall for the finals in South Africa.
"Owen could still be an important player for England," said Ferguson.
"It is not like Ledley King. If he comes back the confidence would come back. If he started playing the confidence would be the key factor."
Hargreaves has not played for United since September 2008, when he finally decided to undergo revolutionary knee surgery in American to try to cure a chronic tendinitis problem that dates back to his time at Bayern Munich.
The 29-year-old eventually returned to United's Carrington training base 12 months later after undergoing an extensive rehabilitation programme under the guidance of world renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman.
At the time, it was thought Hargreaves would be back in action by November but that deadline was missed and so have others Ferguson subsequently put in place.
Yet Ferguson insists the bad news need not necessarily prove terminal and that Hargreaves could still play a major role this season.
"Our physios are doing their best and sometimes we feel he is almost there, then it seems to be slow again," he said.
"But I am confident he will be back before the end of the season.
"The biggest incentive should be to get back into our team but if at the end of it there is the carrot of being in the World Cup then I will be happy with that."
Source: skysports.com
I will never tire of saying: "Get well soon, Hargo!".