Hargreaves’ United return put on hold

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves’s long-awaited comeback has been put on hold after it was decided not to play him in a reserve game on Thursday.

Hargreaves, 29, has been sidelined since September 2008 following surgery on a knee injury, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hinted last week that he could return in Thursday’s reserve fixture against Manchester City at Altrincham.

However, England star Hargreaves will instead continue his training programme, with United keen to stress he has not suffered a setback.

A club spokesperson told ManUtd.com: “This definitely isn’t another injury setback. It just doesn’t fit in with Owen’s training schedule.”

Hargreaves joined United from Bayern Munich in 2007 and has suffered long-term problems with tendinitis, playing only three times in 2008.

In a bid to solve the problem, he had knee surgery in America under the guidance of specialist Dr Richard Steadman.