Sports

Hargreaves happy to be back

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-20 07:35

Manchester United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves returned to action after an 18-month absense on Thursday and admitted he was desperate to restart his injury-hit career.

The 29-year-old, who has been out with chronic tendinitis in his knees, played for 45 minutes in United reserves' 2-0 win over Burnley.

"It's unfinished business," said Hargreaves. "I had a very successful time at Bayern Munich and won everything. But I wanted a change. I wanted a challenge. I wanted to play for Manchester United.

"I wanted to come here and win the Champions League. We did that but I didn't really celebrate that season in Moscow.

"I was disappointed that I'd missed games. Although I had an impact, it wasn't as big as I would have wanted.

"I am 29 but hopefully I have a lot of time left in football and those dreams can become reality."

Hargreaves arrived from Bayern with the tendinitis problem but completed about half United's games during that first season, including the Champions League final win over Chelsea in Moscow.

Despite his comeback, it seems unlikely Hargreaves could mount a serious bid to play in this summer's World Cup.

Yet he has not entirely ruled the prospect out, even if, realistically, he would have to be pushing for a first-team recall within a couple of weeks.

"Well it's there," he said of the target. "How it will materialize I don't know. I would love to have the opportunity to play again but I will have to see how I progress and just take it day by day.

"If I'm there, I'm there and I would love to help. If I'm not, I'm not."

AFP

(China Daily 03/20/2010 page15)