Owen Hargreaves Thread - Over Injury Problems

[kyan]

Hargreaves Has No Answer For Injury Woes

The Red Devils were desperate to sign to Canadian-born England international in the summer of 2006 but were rebuffed by German giants Bayern Munich, where Hargreaves had spent his entire professional footballing career.

He had made quite a name for himself in Bavaria as a well-rounded, box-to-box midfielder, but following protests from the usually mild-mannered and professional Hargreaves, the club were eventually forced to sell the following summer.

There was a twist, however. During his final season at Bayern, the midfielder broke his leg - and injury with notoriously long-lasting and career-changing side-effects on those unfortunate enough to suffer such a setback.

And as it has turned out, the 27-year-old - thought by many to be the final piece in Sir Alex Ferguson's midfield jigsaw puzzle - has missed much of the season with niggling injuries and many fans have become disillusioned with his lack of involvement in their success.

That, though, is key - their success. The Red Devils have managed to cope, thanks in no small part to a resurgent Michael Carrick and Anderson - a Brasilian playmaker with a lot more midfield fight than anybody could have foreseen.

That said, one cannot help but feel for the player. Despite being declared fit since January and scoring his first goal for the club a month ago - a beautiful free-kick against Fulham - he admits that he may have to deal with the chronic injury for some time yet.

"It's something the doctors say I have to manage because when you get this problem it stays with you," rued Hargreaves.

"It's the patella tendon and it's different to most injuries.

"If you break something, that's easy. The bone or the ligament will heal.

"But the tendon is more complicated. It has to burn itself out.

"Sometimes it takes a few months, sometimes a few years.

"There aren't a lot of answers."

He went on to credit those who have filled in the role many had expected him to occupy this season: "I'd like to play every game but it's not possible and you have to say 'Hats off' to the lads who have been in the team ahead of me."

The former Bayern man did his selection chances no harm this week when playing right-back for the Red Devils and flighting an absolutely sensational cross for Carlos Tevez to head home the winner against Roma to cap a Man of the Match performance.

This revelation from Hargreaves quashes recent rumours that suggested he was being left out of the side as punishment by Sir Alex Ferguson due to a lack of punctuality on part of the versatile worhorse.

Goal.com - Manchester United - Hargreaves Has No Answer For Injury Woes

Well it's certainly not good news, but at the moment his performances aren't being affected so it's alright. If it can get sorted out though and we have a more injury-free Hargreaves it'd be great.

[kyan]

Hargreaves Set For Op?

According to the Sunday Mirror Hargreaves is now contemplating surgery having been informed that whilst his condition is manageable, it requires long periods of rest, between matches meaning the England midfielder could potentially face missing out on big games for his new side.

The paper claims that Hargreaves is already unable to train full time like his team mates and is thought to favour the operation in an attempt to clear up his condition and ensure he can compete for a regular place in the side.

It has been a mixed season for Hargreaves since his £17 million transfer from Bayern Munich. He has only made 14 league starts for the Red Devils all season having been hampered by injury as well as the form of new recruits Anderson and Nani alongside established names such as Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher and Ronaldo.

Indeed his first-team opportunities have been limited to such an extent that when he has played recently he has been found playing out of position at right back rather than his favoured midfield role.

However, things looked to have been turned around for Hargreaves after some recent impressive performances. He was United’s man of the match against Roma on Wednesday night, turning in an eye-catching performance and supplying the cross from which Carlos Tevez scored to win the quarter final for United.

Of course it is big games such as these that Hargreaves is desperate to play in and for that reason it seems he will be forced to go under the knife in the summer. He also needs to retain his fitness to keep his place in the Fabio Capello’s England side, especially with a number of World Cup Qualifiers coming up at the beginning of next season.

The News of the World claims there is no guarantee that the operation will be a 100 per cent success. It also suggests that recovery can take up to three months, which means that if Hargreaves does opt for surgery he faces another prolonged stay on the sidelines.

Goal.com - Manchester United - Hargreaves Set For Op?

I think he should do it in the summer if it has a very good chance of curing his problems, but if there's a decent chance of worsening them he should leave it. Knee issues are tricky, just look at Solskjaer or Ledley King. Hargreaves has to be careful.

[dukeofdavinci]

yeah agree wth kyan, these days the knee is the biggest problem a footballer facing, if the surgery can make it better and since no euro why not do it.

but better to gain more info, i.e seek more then one advice on this matter.

[kyan]

Hargreves: Knee Problems Behind Me

Hargreaves, 27, did not exactly hit the ground running upon arriving at Old Trafford, but after shaking off the knee injury he went on to fill an important roles in both midfield and on the right side of United's defence on their path to both domestic and European glory.

"I didn't want to complain - that is something my dad taught me," said Hargreaves. "But I think people can now see the difference physically and what I'm able to do.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm a professional and I want to play, but I just wasn't physically capable of doing so.

"The boss was just waiting for the right time. They put me in the right games and now I feel good. My knees have improved a lot."

Hargreaves now has more time than he would have wished to shake off any lingering remnants of the injury as he, like all other England players, will have to content themselves with watching Euro 2008 on the big screen.

Goal.com - Manchester United - Hargreves: Knee Problems Behind Me

[dukeofdavinci]

lets hope it continues that way