Fergie hails hat-trick hero Owen

WOLFSBURG, Germany: England striker Michael Owen hit a Champions League hat-trick on Tuesday to give national coach Fabio Capello a timely reminder of his talent as Manchester United finished top of their group.

Owen, who turns 30 on Dec 14, demonstrated his finishing class with a well-taken hat-trick to seal United's 3-1 victory at Wolfsburg and dump the Germans out of the Champions League and boost his World Cup chances.

It was Owen's first Champions League hat-trick since joining Manchester United last summer.