Hargreaves back to home truths

20 March 2010 13:48
Owen Hargreaves has been told to concentrate on United for the next two months before thinking about the World Cup with England. The £18m midfielder made a successful 45-minute comeback in the Reds' reserves on Thursday night after being out for 18 months. The 29-year-old hasn't played for the Old Trafford seniors since a match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in September 2008 and has won just three England caps in Fabio Capello's early days as the national boss. He hasn't played an international since May 2008 against the USA. Hargreaves said after his return against Burnley that he would love to be part of England's summer campaign. He finally succumbed to the long-standing knee tendonitis problems and underwent operations on both joints. After two lots of surgery in America he has faced a tortuously long rehab programme. But now Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to select him soon for the first team squad but it comes with a warning about South Africa. The United boss was tetchy when asked about Hargreaves' prospects of making Capello's 23-man squad. "We deserve some service out of him," he snapped. "You talk about World Cups he has been out for a year and a half! There is nothing wrong with talking about it but he should be concentrating on playing for United and he will do that. "His comeback is a big boost to the boy. I am delighted for him. He has been out of the game for 18 months, which is very difficult. "We had experienced of this long interval without playing with Gary Neville. Gary proved that you can come back. Owen has the advantage of being a younger man. "Hopefully now he is back for a continued period. He will need a couple of games more with the reserves. After that he should be back in the first team squad. It is a good one to get at this time of the season." What do you think? Have your say.

Source: Manchester_EveningNews