Premier League - Owen not concerned by injuries

Eurosport - Sat, 04 Jul 14:38:00 2009

New Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he is fighting fit and his injury-plagued past should not be a concern.

2008-2009 Newcastle United Michael Owen - 0

The 29-year-old on Friday night signed a two-year deal with the Premier League champions after swift negotiations which lasted less than 48 hours.

A chequered history with injuries - hamstring problems at Liverpool, knee ligament issues at Newcastle - was thought to have deterred most of England's top clubs from considering signing the out-of-contract striker but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no hesitation.

"A lot is made out of it but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone," said Owen.

The England international believes his new boss was right not to be frightened off by reams of medical notes detailing exactly why he had spent much of his four-year spell on Tyneside on the sidelines.

The former Real Madrid forward is believed to have undergone an assessment on his troublesome knee in London on Thursday before travelling to Manchester on Friday for a more general physical check-up.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical," said Owen. "I passed my medical and I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high."

His manager will hope not as, if he can stay fit, Owen could still have plenty of goals left in him.

"Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said Ferguson, who is a long-time admirer of a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen will see his move to Old Trafford as a double challenge: first he has to show he can still score goals at the highest level and, second, he wants to use his higher profile to regain his England place with a World Cup looming next summer.

PA Sport

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  1. how can anyone think that a 29 year old crock is a good­ signing for a team like man u. when i heard the reports­ i thought comic relief had started

    From Sean, on Sat 4 Jul 6:45PM

  2. even though i am a man u fan i believe that owen owes­ newcastle one more season after they have bankrolled­ him his horses and his injuries for the last few­ seasons. we all know that there is no loyalty in­ football but owen has seriously took the piss out of­ the geordies big time and should hang his head in shame­ for touting himself with his glossy mag!!! is he going­ to be any good for utd? if anyone can fergie can but if­ he does do it for us it will show what sort of man he­ is and do we want him playing for utd if he only turns­ it on for glossy clubs??

    From totlavis, on Sat 4 Jul 5:55PM

  3. still too young to be offered contract in Italy so we­ put in an offer and he has agreed to come to us.­ Already had his medical and arrives Sunday. Named best­ player of an international tournament last year and­ we've done the same as with Rossi and Macheda,­ nipped in first before anyone else gets a chance. He­ plays at right back

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 5:53PM

  4. 16yr old defender and now apparently we are after­ ibrahimovic as well

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 5:43PM

  5. For certain Assassin mate. What of this Alberto­ Massacci chap then?

    From Colonel K, on Sat 4 Jul 5:32PM

  6. and name me a player who doesnt go after the money.­ Even JT (Chelski blue through and through my ar.se) is­ "interested" in a move to City, a cut of the­ transfer fee of 40m and a weekly wage of £300,000 must­ seem very tempting because cry baby Terry doesn't­ think he will figure in the new Ancelotti line up boo­ hoo, same goes for Cashley Cole who thinks he's on­ his way to Madrid, good riddance to bad rubbish

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 5:18PM

  7. Gi5, i say give the bloke a chance, im sure if he was­ still suffering from that catalogue of injuries SAF­ wouldn't have touched him

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 5:09PM

  8. Well said Assassin mate. Never a truer word said.

    From Colonel K, on Sat 4 Jul 4:42PM

  9. owen to me is more of a sub and not a starter to the­ manutd team! he'll have to start after rooney and­ barbatov as he's injury prone! it's time for­ him to shape up otherwise he'll ship out!

    From paulm, on Sat 4 Jul 4:39PM

  10. i think if owen keeps fit,he will be a good signing,he­ is a proven goalscorer,the thing that chips away at us­ geordies is that he never seemed interested,he never­ took the lead,even when made captain,we know we are no­ man u,but you expect somebody to show a bit of pride­ and passion in the black and white top,but with owen­ their was nothing.

    From newcastleian1, on Sat 4 Jul 4:33PM

  11. Ha Ha ,Love it, the salford red sox win transfer battle­ with hull,another class signing to play with wigan­ winger,This is so funny ,can't wait to p##s myself­ laffin at them this year,cmon city

    From dorisdazzler, on Sat 4 Jul 4:31PM

  12. according to news we have signed 16yr old Alberto­ Massacci ??

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 4:25PM

  13. if Owen had signed again for Loserfool you would all­ have been hailing it as the homecoming and rebirth of­ the Messiah, you're all full of hate and bitterness­ because he has signed for Utd and still has something­ to offer

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 4:22PM

  14. Playing at United will be the peak of Owen's career­ after having played only at lesser and smaller clubs.

    From quatt47, on Sat 4 Jul 4:21PM

  15. Lets just think, alex ferguson has won us a lot of­ things, he knows what he is doing.
    As for owen he's­ a good player.

    From meganhoughton17, on Sat 4 Jul 4:18PM

  16. does anyone know what number he is going to be

    From maireoconnor13, on Sat 4 Jul 4:12PM

  17. this cud be signin of the season or worst signin of the­ season

    From forestreds, on Sat 4 Jul 4:11PM

  18. Goodluck to him! Such a transfer signals of an exciting­ coming season! A liverpool fan

    From YNWA, on Sat 4 Jul 4:02PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    1249 as a Liverpool Fan I would never have him back­ again, I remember what he was like 18 months before he­ left Liverpool, he was useless and I always wanted him­ gone, since then he has done nothing, injured a lot,­ but continued to get high wages. The guy will never­ change, hes not hungry enough, unlike Macheda. Remember­ he only had to hang fire during the Newcastle transfer­ and he would have been at Liverpool instead, he went­ for the money then and showed no loyalty, this is­ probably why Rafa wasnt interested this time. He'll­ never be an England player again get real he's past­ his sell by date

    From Steve R, on Sat 4 Jul 3:58PM

  20. Ah yes Donney, the pelvis busting thighs of the­ Williams sisters, clamped around like a vice - worth a­ squirt for sure.

    From Colonel K, on Sat 4 Jul 3:50PM
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