Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves could soon be back in action after years of struggling with a knee injury, his surgeon said.

Hargreaves has not started a match for his Premier League club since September 2008 but surgeon Richard Steadman told the BBC the 29-year-old former England international's prospects now looked good.

"It's all worked out," he said. "He's close to playing fitness, although it's obviously up to United to decide when he plays a match."

Canadian-born Hargreaves, outstanding for England in the 2006 World Cup finals, has had operations on both knees to try and cure a chronic tendinitis problem and is currently being treated in Colorado.

The player joined United for £17 million from Bayern Munich in 2007.

"He's never given up and we never gave up on him. The recovery was arduous and took a long time," said Steadman.

"But Owen is a patient patient and his condition looks promising now. You can't rush this type of injury and have to be very patient.

"He was with us a few weeks ago and is doing really well though. He was sprinting, twisting and turning."

Reuters