Hargreaves Feels The Pain

It's doubtful whether Owen Hargreaves will ever be fully fit again. The player himself admitted to being in discomfort which surely casts a shadow over his Old Trafford future. Hargreaves revealed that he had expected to be back for the start of the season yet he's still a few weeks away from first-team action.

'I wouldn't say I am pain free and I don't know if I can play through it,' he said.

'My training has improved over the last weeks and that is a very positive sign for me. I believe that it will continue to improve and progress.

'But I am still in the process of getting some injections to try to manage the pain because if I didn't have any I would have played at the beginning of the season. It's about training, getting these injections and trying to go forward.'

Still getting injections, then. Still in pain. Still unsure whether he can play through it. Fergie has placed huge faith in Owen Hargreaves but concerns about his long-term fitness will, seemingly, never be alleviated.

With also a question mark over Anderson's future - the boy could not prove himself after falling out with Fergie due to the injury which deprived him of a chance of redemption - we are disastrously thin in central midfield. Everyone is talking about what happens if Rooney gets injured - but what if either Carrick or Fletcher is ruled out? We're screwed, that's what.

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