Hargreaves back at Carrington

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves took another step towards recovery from his knee surgery when he returned to the Red Devils’ Carrington training complex this morning.

The England star has been plagued by a tendinitis problem since before his £18m move from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2007.

Although Hargreaves did manage to get through his first season at Old Trafford, and play in the Champions League final win over Chelsea, when the problem surfaced once more at the start of last season it was decided to send him for groundbreaking surgery.

Under the guidance of renowned Colorado knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman, who counts Ruud van Nistelrooy among the players he has rescued from the trauma of ruptured cruciate ligaments, Hargreaves had operations on both knees.

The Calgary-born player has remained in the United States for an extended period of rehabilitation ahead of his return to Manchester.

The midfielder has been accompanied by the physios he has worked with across the Atlantic, who will now offer the United medical staff guidance as to the best way to manage his recovery.

Alex Ferguson is determined not to rush Hargreaves’ return, knowing the player could be a very influential figure if he does eventually regain full fitness.

However, he has been registered to play in the group stages of the Champions League, with Ferguson optimistic he will be fit for the last couple of games at the end of November and beginning of December.