PICTURE SPECIAL: Michael Owen's all smiles as out-of-contract striker emerges from hospital after co

Published: 03 Jul 2009 - 17:27:36

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PICTURE SPECIAL: Michael Owen's all smiles as out-of-contract striker emerges from hospital after co

Michael Owen has left a south Manchester private hospital sporting a broad grin after completing his Manchester United medical. The former England striker, whose contract with Newcastle expired on Wednesday, left the hospital just after five o'clock and was understood to be returning to United's Carrington training ground to complete the formalities of the move. United remain optimistic they will complete the deal by this evening. Enlarge Smiles better: Michael Owen leaves the hospital in Manchester The ex-Newcastle star is on the brink of a sensational move to United after accepting the terms of a pay-as-you-play one-year deal with the champions. Talks were understood to have taken place last night and the 29-year-old, who made his name playing for United's arch-rivals Liverpool, was pictured arriving at the champions' Carrington training complex this morning. Enlarge Shock arrival: Michael Owen drives into Manchester United's Carrington training ground complex Ferguson believes the 29-year-old is a gamble worth taking if he canstay injury-free and return to the kind of goalscoring form that madehim European Footballer of the Year in 2001. Reason to be cheerful: Michael Owen could soon be celebrating a sensational move to Manchester United HAVE YOUR SAY... Is Owen's proposed pay-as-he-plays deal a good one for Manchester United? Sir Alex Ferguson believes signing 29-year-old Michael Owen is a gamble worth taking if he can stay injury-free and return to the kind of goalscoring form that made him European Footballer of the Year in 2001. Do you agree? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK It is believed Owen could be offered as little as £20,000 a week as a basic salary but with massive performance-related bonuses which could take him close to the £110,000 a week he was on at Newcastle United. It has been a difficult time for Owen. Dropped from the England squad by Fabio Capello and the captain of the woeful Newcastle side who were relegated at the end of last season, he was ridiculed recently when his management company advertised his credentials in a brochure sent to a number of clubs. There was thought to have been interest from Aston Villa and Everton, while Hull City manager Phil Brown made public his wish to lure Owen to the KC Stadium. But agent Tony Stephens may have negotiated a dream move that couldpropel him back into the England squad in time for the World Cup. The move would be a free transfer as Owen's Newcastle contract expired on Wednesday. Painful reminder: Owen in action during his last appearance for England, against France in March 2008 Neither United nor Owen's management company WMG would comment last night, but it is believed he is travelling to Manchester today for a medical, havingalready undergone an assessment of his troublesome knee yesterday. The move failed to impress United fans, particularly after the club said they had received £80million in a single payment from Real Madrid for Cristiano Ronaldo and they had been linked to the likes of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema. The Republik of Mancunia website, under the heading 'God No, Not MichaelOwen', lists 10 reasons why the clubshould not sign him. One fan wrote: 'Not in a million years. I'd rather bring Bellion back . . . than have Michael 'I'm a crocked scouse' Owen.' But Owen has proved himself an excellent strike partner to Wayne Rooney with England and Ferguson clearly considers him a decent acquisition when the financial risk is so small. The United boss declined to move for Owen when the player left Real Madrid for Newcastle four years ago in a £16million deal. His medical record will be a worry, however, having gone down with injury or illness 16 times during his time at Newcastle. Within his first four months at St James' Park, Owen pulled a hamstring, strained his groin and broke a metatarsal. Having signed for a club record £16m, he made only 58 Premier League starts. Toon sale edges closer as Malaysian consortium are given guided tourUnited's response to losing £80m Ronaldo? A free puntBarmby urges 'wonderful' Owen to change from Magpie to TigerMICHAEL OWEN BROCHURE: The complete 32-page agents' dossierMichael Owen: The gissa job dossier - 32 glossy pages of past glories and 'brand values'Give Toon legend Shearer the top job, departing striker Owen tells NewcastleCrossing the divide: Brave stars who pulled on the red of Liverpool and Manchester UnitedHe's gone where? The five most unpopular football transfers everMANCHESTER UNITED FC