Manchester United FC

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Hargreaves on return trail

19 Aug 2008 - 08:58:30

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Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has revealed he is close to a comeback and has vowed to improve on his first season at Old Trafford.

Hargreaves, 27, started just 16 Premier League games in his first season with the Red Devils following a £17million move from Bayern Munich after being plagued by tendinitis problems in his knees.

The England international has started the new campaign on the sidelines with the same problem, but has revealed he is close to returning to action in better shape than he was last season.

"There is a lot more to come from me," he said. "I don't think I played a game healthy last season. I was at about 50 or 60 per cent at best.

"When I had another scan on the knee this summer it had not improved, so I came back early to try to fix it at the beginning of pre-season.

"Hopefully I will be fit pretty soon.

"I am not going to set a timetable but I am close. I am working on my fitness every day and, while I have not joined in with the lads yet, hopefully it will happen this week.

"Whether I am fit for Portsmouth (on Monday) or the match after that, the most important thing is I am healthy for the rest of the season."