Injured Hargreaves faces wait for Man Utd return

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has suffered another blow after boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted the injured England star is still some way from full fitness.

Hargreaves, 28, made just three appearances last season before being forced to undergo surgery for tendinitis in both knees.

The England star hasn’t played since September 2008 and had hoped to train with the Premier League champions as they prepare for a pre-season tournament in Germany.

But Ferguson, who had already said that he did not expect the former Bayern Munich player to return to action until September, admits Hargreaves won’t be rushed back.

“Hargreaves will not play in this tournament,” Ferguson said. “We had hoped he would be joining us, but he is still in his programme of rehabilitation.

“He has had major operations on both knees and we are not rushing that.

“He is young enough to come back once he is fully fit, but we are not rushing him.”