Source: Daily_Mail
Carrick predicts goal rush from Owen after striker's first Man United hat-trick
Job done: Carrick led the celebrations in Germany[LNB]Michael Carrick is backing long-time England team-mate Michael Owen to hit the goal trail following his first Manchester United hat-trick. [LNB]Owen emerged the hero from a defiant Red Devils display, Sir Alex Ferguson's men making light of the absence of 14 senior players to overcome German champions Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena. [LNB]It was the striker's first Champions League treble since 2003 and confirmed United's status as Group B winners. [LNB]For Owen, it was also a nudge in the direction of Fabio Capello with time running out for him to stake a claim for a place in England's World Cup plans. [LNB]Even now he only has seven goals to his name this season but Carrick predicts more will follow, which may just earn him a place in Capello's side for the final friendly - likely to be against Egypt at Wembley on March 3 - before the Italian names his provisional squad. [LNB]'It was a great achievement,' said Carrick. 'Scoring a hat-trick away from home in the Champions League doesn't happen so often but it is just what he is all about. [LNB]'We always knew he could do it. He has been doing it all his career. Hopefully now he can get on a roll and he will continue to score many important goals for us over the next few weeks.'[LNB] All three were typical Owen goals. He found enough space when Nani crossed to guide home a close-range header and put United in front just before the break, then evaded a clutch of Wolfsburg defenders to tap home Gabriel Obertan's cross seven minutes from time to seal victory. [LNB]Owen's third arrived when he charged clear from halfway in the manner of old after racing onto another short pass from Obertan, before calmly chipping Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benaglio. [LNB]'Strikers like scoring goals and hopefully it will give him an extra bit of confidence, not that he needed it,' observed Carrick. 'It is good for him to score but it is about what he is contributing as well. [LNB]'As long as we are winning and everyone is playing well, we are satisfied.'[LNB]Carrick has just as much reason to be pleased with himself at the moment as, along with Darren Fletcher, he is one of the men charged with rescuing United from their defensive nightmare. [LNB] Back to his very best: Owen ran riot against the Wolfsburg defence[LNB]First as a makeshift central defender at West Ham, then as a sweeper in Germany, Carrick has slotted into the new role with authority. [LNB]The 28-year-old was very fortunate to escape without conceding a penalty for his lunge at Makoto Hasebe, but it was far from the disaster Ferguson might have feared when he looked at the list of absentees on the flight to Germany. [LNB]'I have never headed the ball as much,' Carrick laughed. 'It is not the physical side that is hard about playing centre-half, it is the mental. [LNB]Fighting to be fit: Vidic should return[LNB]'You need to maintain concentration and focus at all times. I just put myself in the right positions and hoped for the best. [LNB]'We rode our luck at times but, as a back three, I thought we played well.'[LNB]As Ferguson expects Nemanja Vidic to have recovered from the flu virus that prevented him from travelling, there is at least some good news ahead of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa. [LNB]Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs will also return to face Martin O'Neill's men, giving Ferguson a more familiar matchday squad to choose from. [LNB]However, Wes Brown is unlikely to have recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered at Upton Park, and Rio Ferdinand, John O'Shea and Jonny Evans have been ruled out until January. [LNB] Michael Owen is three and easy with his third Champions League treble - here's Sportsmail's list of hat-trick heroes, including Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Mike NewellOwen sends World Cup message to Fabio with stunning United hat-trickSol Campbell responds to Manchester United speculation: 'It'd be a great move for me'United coaches full of admiration for controversial teen star Paul Pogba Valencia determined to keep United target Villa in Spain until the summerManchester United ready to revive interest in Norway starlet LarsenMANCHESTER UNITED FC
