Hargreaves set for free-kick role

03 October 2009 12:03
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Owen Hargreaves is the man to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United's set-piece specialist. Ronaldo's summer departure to Real Madrid has created an opportunity for another member of the United squad to take on the responsibility from free-kicks. The evergreen Ryan Giggs has scored twice from such situations this season, while Wayne Rooney has also been keen to get involved. However, with the imminent return of Hargreaves from a long-term knee injury, United boss Ferguson feels the midfielder can assume Ronaldo's mantle. Bonus"Outside Cristiano Ronaldo, I don't think there is a better deliverer of set pieces than Owen," said Ferguson. "That is one of the areas in which he may help us more. "People may look upon free-kicks as minimal. I see them as an added detail to a football team. "Ronaldo could get three or four goals like that. We are still searching for someone else. If Owen can do it, that will be a bonus for us." Hargreaves has not played a first-team game in over 12 months after undergoing surgery on both knees to fix a long-standing tendinitis problem, but is now close to a return to action. No reactionFerguson added: "He is coming along fine. His physio has gone back to America so he is completely in our control now and hopefully he will be back into football training quite soon. "The signs are good. There has been absolutely no reaction to the operations. "It has been a long road for the boy but he made a sacrifice by staying in America for a year to make sure he was right. "That shows a good determination to come back and do well."

Source: SKY_Sports