Owen's United hopes dashed as Solskjaer returns

MICHAEL OWEN'S chances of joining Manchester United have receded even further following the shock news that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is on the brink of a first-team return.

Solskjaer, the popular Norwegian who scored the injury-time goal which won United the Champions League in 1999, has endured a miserable two seasons with injury.

The 32-year-old was not expected to be fit until October after being forced to have a second operation on the knee ligaments he damaged against Panathinaikos in September 2003.