United rule out Hargreaves
29 Aug 2008 - 08:45:39
Midfielder Owen Hargreaves has been ruled out of England's opening World Cup qualifiers by his Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hargreaves, 27, is in line to make his first appearance of the new season in Friday's UEFA Super Cup meeting with Zenit St Petersburg in Monaco.
But after battling with tendinitis problems in his knees during his first 12 months at Old Trafford, Ferguson claims the midfielder will not be available for international duty in the coming weeks.
Fabio Capello's side kick-off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra in Barcelona next Saturday, before taking on Croatia in a Zagreb four days later.
Capello's midfield options have already been reduced after Liverpool sent Steven Gerrard for surgery on a groin problem.
"Owen will not be ready as he needs recovery time," said Ferguson.
"Anyone could play against Andorra but Croatia is different - you need players who are 100 per cent.
"We sent Owen to the right specialist and he had the right treatment, so it is just a matter of him getting on with it now.
"It has not been easy for him. Having tendinitis can be irritating for a player.
"But he has trained for 10 days and it is now important to give him some minutes on the pitch.
"I think it will be too early for him. He is not ready for that."