Owen sends World Cup message to Fabio with stunning United hat-trick

09 December 2009 12:05
Michael Owen fired himself spectacularly into the World Cup reckoning last night as the England striker's first hat-trick in four years secured Manchester United a 3-1 win at Wolfsburg in the Champions League. [LNB]Missing 15 first-team players, Sir Alex Ferguson's team pulled off a remarkable victory in Saxony to finish top of Group B and set a new Champions League record of 15 away games without defeat. [LNB]But the night was all about Owen, who sent a clear message to England manager Fabio Capello, who has only capped the 29-year-old once in his two seasons in charge. [LNB] Leap of faith: Michael Owen scoring his first goal against Wolfsburg [LNB] A typically modest Owen said: 'Me getting three goals will probably grab the headlines, but it was a great team performance. [LNB]'I was playing deep with us having so many players out and we were trying to protect the back four.' [LNB]Owen, who turns 30 next Monday, hopes United will now be handed afavourable tie in the last 16 after progressing as group winners. [LNB] Laughing game: Michael Owen is delighted after spurring United to victory[LNB][LNB]'It's great being top so we play at home second,' Owen added. 'But I'm not going to lie, you want as weak a side as possible.'[But] if a team's got to first or second in the Champions League,there's no weak sides, although you obviously want to avoid the bigboys.' [LNB]Manager Ferguson has said already that only consistent performanceswill get Owen into the England squad and give him a chance to add tohis 89 caps. [LNB]Hat-trick: Owen leaves Wolfsburg with the match ball [LNB][LNB]Last night the United manager said: 'First of all, the most important thing is Manchester United. [LNB]'As he has proved many times, Michael is one of the best strikers around in terms of his positional play and his finishing. [LNB]'Can he have an impact from the start of games? Absolutely. Theevidence is always on the football field and Michael has given plentytonight. [LNB]'His training performances have improved steadily and I have never had a problem playing him. [LNB]'He is fantastic. You know what he is. He is in the penalty box,making runs across defenders . . . the timing of his runs is fantasticand I am really pleased for him. [LNB]'At times this season we have played with a central striker inRooney and three midfielders, but we have played a different systemwith Owen and Danny Welbeck tonight and Michael has proved his worth.[LNB] 'I am delighted with his performance.' [LNB]With midfielders Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Parkplaying in defence in Germany, United were on the back foot for much ofthe night but took the lead through an Owen header just beforehalf-time and went on to score twice late in the game after Wolfsburghit back through Edin Dzeko.[LNB] 'There was some pressure on Wolfsburg to get a result and thatsuited us because we could afford to be patient,' added Ferguson.[LNB] 'They missed two good, early opportunities with headers and that would have made it difficult for us.[LNB] 'But they are a strong team and they have been unlucky when, goingto win the game, they have been caught on the counter-attack twice.' [LNB]United received better news from home yesterday when Ferguson'sstaff told him that defender Nemanja Vidic will be fit for Saturday'sBarclays Premier League game against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.[LNB] Predictably, strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov will also be OK. [LNB]Ferguson added: 'Vidic we expect to be fit for Saturday. Rooney and Berbatov will both be fit.' [LNB] Wolfsburg 1 Manchester Utd 3: Brilliant Michael Owen fires hat-trick to ensure United top their Champions League groupMARTIN SAMUEL: Giggs is the only star to pass my test of geniusDefenders of the faith: A night in the life of a makeshift Man United rearguardWolfsburg's wanted man Dzeko shows Manchester United why he's head boyManchester United investigate special South Korea travel arrangements for Ji-sung Park in bid to solve mystery knee injuryMANCHESTER UNITED FC

Source: Daily_Mail