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. speaking as a life long liverpool fan, we're not­ arsed m8 you can have him! We had the best years out of­ him as his recent exploits have shown IE real madrid­ and the toon (more of a cartoon) so you're welcome­ to him. If he starts more than ten times this coming­ season, ill eat my words to be sure but somehow i­ don't think so!!!

    From sonofbrush, on Sat 4 Jul 3:36PM

  2. baz. dont you see anything greedy about the jt rumours

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 3:30PM

  3. micheal owen is a red is a red is a red micheal owen is­ a red he hates scousers.....

    and before you all start­ i dont care how @#$% he is as long as he bags the­ winner in the champs league final against you scouse­ t$%ts.
    ID LOVE IT....HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    From lee c, on Sat 4 Jul 3:28PM

  4. baz, your opinion is noted but not shared by all

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 3:15PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    of course he is not concerned by injuries. he would­ quite happily sit on the bench and pick up his wages­ for the next two seasons. people think owen will score­ goals at utd, ha ha he was finished three years ago, no­ pace and certainly no skill. i really dont want to hear­ about this vile midget playing for england again­ either. he is a shining example of greed and epitomises­ everything wrong with the game today.

    From bazspur5, on Sat 4 Jul 3:06PM

  6. at last owen where he belongs even if 10 years to late­ it will be an honour and a privilage to see some class­ showing the youngsters how the game should be played­ and not worrying about their next tv interview or­ worrying about their hairstyles,michael owen the real­ deal welcome to utd you are a hero to many

    From dylanhunt, on Sat 4 Jul 2:41PM

  7. Owen not concerned by injuries ha ha he never has been­ as long as the wages are being paid in.And when he`s­ not injuried the only time he plays well is 2 weeks­ leading up to england games.He`s only interested in­ himself and breaking england record

    From jon, on Sat 4 Jul 2:37PM

  8. being a man utd fan am a little unsure to why we signed­ owen i mean we lost loser ronaldo who really did not­ play his standards at all last season it seems he was­ trying to throw all games so he would be signed over­ then we have tevez who wanted to play but well he didnt­ really want to stay either and now we have owen dont­ get me wrong great player glad to have him but will he­ be another owen hargreaves lets hope not and hargreaves­ come on mate get ya self sorted and be the player we­ all know you are
    COME ON THE REDS NEXT­ SEASON.........................

    From kelli, on Sat 4 Jul 2:35PM

  9. so what if owen is at man utd he is only gonna be a sub­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ okay

    From Dominic, on Sat 4 Jul 2:34PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HES ALWAYS CALLAPSANG LEEK A SECK A SHIITE.

    From Donney, on Sat 4 Jul 2:30PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I THOT WAS AGANST SWEEDN AN 2006 GI6 BYE.

    From Donney, on Sat 4 Jul 2:30PM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AFTARNAN GI5 BYE. OM WETCHAN THA WALLIAMS BATCHAZ AN­ THA TELEBAX. A SAY, SERENAS NAT PRATTAY BAT A WAD­ DEAFINATLAY GAV ER WAN.

    From Donney, on Sat 4 Jul 2:29PM

  13. Why would Owen be worried by injuries? He was getting­ £110,000 a week at Newcastle to nurse them. MUFC - you­ just signed a sicknote. Watch the videos of his last­ few games for Newcastle, no guts, no spirit, just after­ the money.

    From Hutch, on Sat 4 Jul 2:27PM

  14. This season has Man Utd written all over it!
    CR7 &­ Tevez leaving and a gamble with Owen .
    You it is music­ to my ears when all the critics of man utd say once­ again(When will they learn) we are doomed.
    Fergie has­ made the blunder of his life.
    As Man Utd fan I have­ come to realise the fact that all this negativity is­ just a way of expressing your fears and relish the­ world being against us.
    Glory Glory Glory MAN­ UTD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!

    From smnthu, on Sat 4 Jul 2:24PM

  15. The one thing that bothers me, there was the England­ match in was it Euro 2004 or World 2006, certain­ it's the latter? Where he literally had his first­ touch, something went in his knee and he collapsed like­ a sack of sh-i-te... I have a horrible vision­ lightning could strike twice for him, certainly hope­ not, and I know I've condradicted my optimism a­ little, but sticks in your mind a little.

    From Colonel K, on Sat 4 Jul 2:23PM

  16. I'm an man utd fan & can understand the­ Toon's frustrations but loserpool wtf?

    From smnthu, on Sat 4 Jul 2:17PM

  17. All those who want him to break his leg in the first 5­ min of his first game are not true football fans, you­ wouldn't wish that on anyone,

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 2:08PM

  18. Nothing ventured nothing gained, give the guy a chance,­ he's playing for the best team in the EPL and that­ will surely bring out the best in him if he stays­ injury free. I'm certain that he will prove people­ wrong and be a good signing, he has bags of experience­ and he hasn't gone from good to bad just because­ he's picked up injuries

    From the silent assassin, on Sat 4 Jul 2:04PM

  19. Aye, Liverpool and Newcastle are scared, the former­ espeicially, but you know what? It's OK to be­ scared, because they know, they are going to get it­ lol. : P

    From Colonel K, on Sat 4 Jul 2:02PM

  20. im a man u fan through and through and i cant wait to­ see owen in a utd jersey , up yours to the liverpool­ muppets , owen , new utd legend..

    From Mark, on Sat 4 Jul 2:02PM
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