It’s no longer new news, but it seems poor old Owen Hargreaves just can’t seem to get his knee problems sorted out as he faces YET ANOTHER setback in hopes he’ll soon reach full match fitness. What an incredibly psychologically taxing situation Hargreaves must be facing as he continually is forced to pick himself up off the ground and start over again as the footballing world seems to pass him by in the rear view.

As football fans, we all have certain players we gravitate to for one reason or another. You may have seen them play for a previous club and always wanted them to come play for your team. Maybe they play similar to the way you played – on a much lower level – when you laced up in better days. For me, Owen Hargreaves is one of those players that I’ve always connected with, that I’ve always liked that much more than other players on my club, and a player I’ve always looked for first or second on the team sheet.

Whether it’s my ongoing man crush on him, his tireless work rate as a defensive midfielder, his ability to pick out a stunning ball in the center of the pitch, or his ability to cross the ball from the wings, it’s safe to say his pain has definitely been passed on to me as I wonder when, if ever, he’ll represent England or Manchester United again.

As I witnessed Hargreaves take the field against Sunderland last season for all of a minute, I held that tiny bit of hope that this was in fact the beginning of some miraculous comeback that would see Hargreaves gain further match fitness and valuable rest over the summer, only to be chomping at the bit in United’s midfield come mid August. Hargreaves’ addition in United’s midfield adds numerous dimensions to an attack minded set up, or a more conservative approach on a European night. His experience playing in big matches, domestically, in Europe and Internationally, is a valuable resource when needed.

When United last conquered Europe, Hargreaves was arguably United’s best player on the night starting on the right side of midfield and providing service to United’s strikers from the wing, all while dealing with Chelsea’s Florent Malouda and Ashley Cole in his spare time. He smashed his spot kick home on way to United lifting the trophy over fellow English foes Chelsea, a night United supporters haven’t remotely forgotten.

His performances for England at the 2006 World Cup have been widely discussed and spoken of at length. What a brilliant display of stamina, precision and leadership Hargreaves displayed in England’s eventual elimination at the hands of Portugal. Hargreaves was the only England player to net his penalty on the day after what was surely an exhausting performances over the course of 120 minutes.

As a huge supporter of Hargreaves, I’m no where near ready to give up on him just yet. At 29, times have looked brighter for the Canadian born midfielder, yet one could see a comeback in some capacity as Hargreaves realistically could still have 4 or 5 years left to give football if he can finally make progress after such a long stint away.

My hope is that Hargreaves can do just that. For someone who’s had such a tumultuous battle with injury over the last few years, it’s time a little luck and a few good breaks go Owen Hargreaves’ way.

Think back to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the game that England played against Portugal in the quarter-final. There were many vivid moments from that match including Cristiano Ronaldo’s wink, Wayne Rooney getting sent off for his stamp on Ricardo Carvalho and David Beckham exiting the game with an injury.

But the one player who stood out from all 22 on the pitch that evening personifies the one thing that is missing from England during this World Cup.

That one player was Owen Hargreaves and that one thing is passion.

Of course, Hargreaves is still not nearly at a level of an international call-up again right now, so I’m not advocating a return for him. But what I am seeing in England is a lack of passion and a lack of a player who can pick up the game like the way that Hargreaves did against Portugal in 2006.

If you remember from that game against Portugal, Hargreaves played a blinder. He was giving 100% during every moment of the game. And you could clearly see that he wanted nothing more than for England to win the game. The man ran everywhere, made incredible tackles, blocked shots on goal. He was the shining star on a night when the England players you would expect to show up clearly didn’t.

That’s what England is missing. A player that the fans can identify with. Someone that the supporters can get behind. A footballer who is willing to spill his guts to help England to victory.

In the past week, I’ve been very critical of this current England side. I’m not an England hater. I want them to succeed, but the team has to earn the respect and plaudits by playing a brand of football that they do week-in week-out in the Premier League. There are so many questions hanging over the head of England right now. And the big one is whether they are a good footballing nation or not. It’s time for England to put themselves to the test on Wednesday against Slovenia and show the world what they’re made of.

With Hargreaves not in the squad, the concern I have is who is able to rise up for England and to play a similar role to what Hargreaves did in 2006. It could be Wayne Rooney, but I believe there’s too much pressure riding on his shoulders already and it seems unlikely that he can step into those shoes. So who else can do it? Perhaps Joe Cole if Capello gives him a chance, but Cole hasn’t been that type of player for a very long time. He can score goals but he’s not a firestarter who can get the England team pumped up. Gerrard did it for Liverpool in the 2005 Champions League Final, but that was a very long time ago and was under different circumstances.

The beauty of the inspirational game from Owen Hargreaves in 2006 was that he was the player we least expected to step into the role. So, maybe it’s better that on Wednesday afternoon that an England player we least expected to step up does it for us. Or not.

As reports continue to surface that Gareth Barry may not be fully fit in time for the World Cup, Owen Hargreaves chances of boarding the plane with the rest of the England squad for South Africa have apparently increased. Despite making only one appearance for Manchester United in the past 20 months, a 2 minute cameo against Sunderland last weekend, Fabio Capello appears to see a role for the tough tackling midfielder. While his opportunities may end up being limited, his grit and versatility could prove enough to make the Canadian-born veteran a risk worth taking.

However, the England staff has a lot to consider if they want to avoid turning the Hargreaves situation into another Theo Walcott, Sven Goran Eriksson fiasco. For the past few months, it is believed that the red devil has been healthy but not ready to play. Sir Alex chalked up the delay to the psychological difficulties of playing on two surgically repaired knees. Due to the fragility of those knees, Hargreaves may not have the steel and nerve to show the determination in the tackle that defined him as a footballer and therefore, wouldn’t have the impact that his national team manager is looking for.

Even if this isn’t this case, it is difficult to find World Cup form after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Players who are injured often have a heavy touch and unusually poor field awareness. There is no way of knowing whether Hargreaves will have the necessary technical abilities to be ready for this level of competition after only two minutes of competitive football in almost 2 years. In the eyes of many, Fabio Capello would be hard-pressed to include him in the England squad.

Still, Hargreaves credentials indicate that, if fit, the only choice for the Italian is to take him to South Africa. Not only can he fill Barry’s void at holding midfield, he can also fill the possible hole that Glen Johnson’s injury may create at right back, where Hargreaves has played many times for club and country, or on the right side of midfield, where he played at times for Manchester United during their 2007/2008 Champions League run.

Also, his experience in big games rivals that of any other England player. He has not only started for Manchester United in Champions League final two years ago, he played for Bayern Munich in 2001 while at the ripe age of 20, winning on both occasions. In 2002, he started twice for England at the World Cup in South Korea, and four years later, he was voted England’s player of the year, mainly for his performance at the 2006 tournament in Germany, where he played a crucial role behind Gerrard and Lampard in midfield. He has the experience to provide leadership for the scandal-ridden side, that if not from the field, will at least be useful in the somewhat divided locker room.

Hargreaves can be a valuable member to this England team; yet, by selecting him, England run the risk of picking a player who isn’t mentally or physically ready for the grind of a strenuous tournament. One often overlooked feature that the3 lions can be confident of, is his ability to convert his penalty in a shootout if ever necessary – a skill England teams have never possessed. While Hargreaves may be an afterthought once England kicks off their World Cup campaign on June 12th against the United States, until then, he will be weighing heavily on the mind of Fabio Capello.

It was often said through out much of the last ten years that England’s midfield was its strongest point. With Beckham in his pomp and Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard ably assisted by a constant rotation of players wedged in to the left midfield position, it often felt a little hollow. In the big games, they disappeared too easily. Until Capello arrived, it was constantly suggested that Gerrard and Lampard couldn’t play together and to some degree it was correct. Yet, great players should be able to fit in to any system, regardless of their natural instincts.

For South Africa 2010, things are very different. Of course, Beckham has no chance to play in the World Cup, which is unfortunate. Gerrard has had his worst season since becoming a first team regular at Liverpool as Liverpool huffed and puffed their way through dull performance after dull performance. Even the ever consistent Lampard had his struggles at the beginning of the season as he tried to familiarise himself with Ancellotti’s diamond formation but has been rampant over the last few weeks.

Add to that the major worries that Capello has on England’s right side. Walcott out of form and in and out of the side, Shaun Wright-Phillips struggling and Aaron Lennon just returning to the Spurs squad. Of course, James Milner could easily slip into that position, but he’s been excellent playing through the middle for Villa this season and the managers quandary becomes apparent. The left side also is far from decided, with Joe Cole, Stewart Downing, Adam Johnson and Ashley Young all having a claim on the position too.

Choices, choices choices but who to take. In 2006, Eriksson chose 9 midfielders in his squad of 23 and in 2002 took 7 midfielders. I’ve already picked 12 out of 23, which means I may have reflectively bump someone from the back line, but I’m going for 7 midfielders to join the squad.Gerrard, Lampard and Barry are all shoe-ins for me, no question. The question is who to add to that trio.

Crucially, James Milner has to be in, simply because he has been consistently outstanding this season. His ability to play on either wing, through the middle and even at right back cannot be overlooked. Sometimes a player who is so adaptable can sometimes be overlooked, but Milner’s case for inclusion is too strong. England’s record cap holder at Under 21 level has now progressed to becoming a valuable member of the squad. He has to be on the plane to South Africa.

That leaves several players scrapping for just 3 places, so best to rule a few out immediately. Adam Johnson, despite some rather unusual clamour for him to be included may find this is a tournament too early for him. He’s not really settled in to the Manchester City side, but is playing regularly but it would be a massive risk to take him as an international novice. Look at Theo Walcott in 2006, he never got a sniff of the first team and it probably cost England that they didn’t take Defoe or Bent instead. A bold move that backfired spectacularly.

Ashley Young is another one who is simply too widely inconsistent to be chosen along with Stewart Downing. Both Villa wing men can be devastating on their day but I don’t feel either can match the 3 wide players that I’ve chosen. Young is also easily got at, defenders can easily wind him up and he retreats into his shell too easily when things go against him. His distribution is so inconsistent as to be astounding, yes he may have pace by the bucket-load but invariably wastes great opportunities.

Downing, for all the clamour for a natural left footer, also flatters to deceive. I have constantly been amazed at the amount of hype this lad has had burdening him for so long because I can’t see what all the fuss is about. I’m assured by Middlesbrough fans he is a fantastic player, but I’ve never seen him have a great game, unlike some of his England rivals. So sorry, no place for him either.

The three I’ve plumped for may be classed as risks, but in the circumstances, all 3 can give us something the other contenders can’t. First up, Theo Walcott. The night he scored a hat trick against Croatia saw him jump in estimation, both in England and abroad. He has certainly continued to improve but still can’t force himself to become a regular at Arsenal. That’s no disrespect towards the lad, but he has been in devastating form for Arsenal when in form this year.

The other two may be the biggest risks of the lot, Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon. Both players have at times shown ability and skill that set them apart and both have benefited from the tutelage of Harry Redknapp. Lennon was highly regarded when he joined Spurs but he would be the first to admit that he’d slightly lost his way a little before Redknapp became manager. Until his injury, Lennon was playing the best football of his career and gave Spurs a thrust down the right flank that they’ve missed since December.

With him only just returning to fitness, Lennon could be a major risk but it could also be a bonus to take such devastating pace that has effectively had a four month break. Cole meanwhile has had similar struggles with injury and has the additional stress of his contract expiring in the summer. He is certain to be sure of plenty of suitors regardless of whether he stays at Chelsea or not. Cole has had a tough season but his grit is extremely underrated. Cole is a fighter, he digs in and he gives 100%, England can ask for nothing less.

So that’s my 7 midfielders for South Africa. Gerrard, Lampard, Barry, Milner, Walcott, Lennon and Cole. With my choice of Ledley King too, it gives us cover in midfield if really required, but I feel those 7 can cover all eventualities. It’s got experience, pace, adaptability and skill. What do you think? Please let me know below:

Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves is set to (finally) make an appearance for the reserves Thursday night v Burnley. It looks as if the Canadian born midfielder has yet to book a summer holiday somewhere warm as he still holds realistic ambitions to be in wintry South Africa with the England squad this summer (from his mouth to God’s ears).

Hargreaves’ comeback has been much looked at, much talked about and highly analyzed on EPL Talk over the past few months as eager England and Manchester United fans continue to hope for good news concerning his fitness. As a supporter for both of the aforementioned teams, Hargreaves is an extremely important player to me personally.

He’s a big match, big tournament kind of player with loads of European and International experience. He is just the type of  player to slow down or break up a potent attack from a country such as Spain, Brazil or Argentina, who England could possibly meet in the later stages of the World Cup. He’s also a solid passer with poise who rarely sprays a ball in the wrong direction. Don’t take my word for it though, see under England’s 2006 World Cup campaign and more specifically, the semi-final match v Portugal – where, although England lost, Hargreaves was epic, tireless and his work rate was unmatched by anyone on the pitch.

When last Manchester United lifted the Champions League trophy in 2008, Hargreaves was also arguably United’s best player over the course of the evening. His appearance on the right side of midfield allowed him to serve meaningful crosses into the box for United’s attacking front while helping United win the midfield battle. He scored his penalty for United that night (and was the only England player to score his pen in that semi final loss to Portugal) on way to lifting the trophy. His battle with injury has been well documented and my hopes are that the worst days are in the past.

Hargreaves is still only 29 and can easily play another five or six years at top level. It gives me hope that he’s not ruling himself out of the World Cup this summer just yet. Although he realizes he’s going to have to progress quick, the fact that he remains positive and continues to train relentlessly to reach match fitness, gives me belief that he knows in his mind he’s got a realistic shot.

I’ve got a good feeling about Hargreaves. I feel like he’s taken his time, rehabbed and trained the right way and hasn’t forced the issue. Although I won’t be able to watch the reserve match tonight, I’ll anxiously be awaiting the match report and I’m hoping for at least a solid 45 minutes.

The Midfield Magician

Cast your mind back to May 2009, Manchester United were comprehensively and soundly trounced in Rome by a magical Barcelona side, inspired by Xavi and Iniesta. For many, the lack of quality in the centre of the park was plain to see, Carrick looked lethargic and unsure of himself, Fletcher was missed, this, a surprise in itself. Club legends, Giggs and Scholes were ineffective and nowhere to be seen.

The class of the Manchester United midfield is weak in comparison their Premier League rivals, Chelsea with Essien, Lampard, Ballack and Liverpool have Mascherano, Aquilani and Gerrard respectively. Carrick, Fletcher and Scholes just do not compare.

Some of you may cry, “You forgot about Owen Hargreaves!” Indeed I did, mainly due to the length of time he has been injured and latest estimates say he will return around Christmas.

With the transfer window almost closed there are no centre midfielders in sight. So I put it to you that, Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira or just plain Anderson will flourish this season.

In my opinion, Anderson possesses all the qualities to become a top class midfielder, he has pace, acceleration, strength, a strong positional sense coupled with the ability to thread through a match winning final ball. He is a combatitive all action midfielder, beginning his career further up the park, he has since developed a very useful defensive side to an already impressive array of attacking talents.

Anderson reminds me a little of Kaka but with a hint of Roy Keane, obviously these are massively talented players, whose level of ability he has not yet reached, but I think he can and has to an extent combined the best parts of their respective games.

He can sit in front of the defence and play a disciplined role, spreading passes to his teammates further up the field. He can also play as an attacking midfielder, a place where he is most comfortable. In this position he offers all the samba skills you can want – just ask Cesc Fabregas – he has vision, dribbling skills and an eye for goal.

The single shortfall of Anderson’s game, and it is a rather large one, is his uncanny ability to do everything right in the lead up to a shot then fluff the final act, footballs have been found as far away as China. Seemingly he did not bring his shooting boots to Old Trafford.

But I have hopes he can eradicate this untimely habit throughout the forthcoming season, and if pre-season is anything to go by we are in for a few treats, as his sublime free-kick against Boca Juniors was a joy to behold.

I think this could be the season where stamps his authority on this Manchester United side, he has already shown in the past he can mix it up with the big boys dominating in games against Fabregas and Steven Gerrard during his first season with United. He may just prove that there is infact life after a certain Portuguese.

A massive injury crisis has hit the Premier League. It’s not at Newcastle United, nor Everton. Instead it’s in the snowy slopes of Vail, Colorado in the United States.

Richard Steadman, the top football-serving surgeon in the world is himself injured after breaking an arm in a skiing accident. The doctor to the stars is the safest pair of hands in football and specializes in knee surgery. And the injury to the doctor will definitely trouble medical experts at Premier League clubs and football clubs around the world.

For example, Steadman’s injury means that James Vaughan’s surgery will be delayed, which will increase the time until Vaughan makes a return to Everton. It’ll also undoubtedly cause delays in the surgeries for other professional footballers.

Here are other projects that Steadman has worked on that you may be interested in:

• Owen Hargreaves recently went under the knife, but is planning to visit Steadman around the New Year for a second operation,
• Ruud van Nistelrooy recently returned from visiting Steadman in Colorado to learn that he’ll be out for the rest of he season,
• Doctor Steadman was the surgeon responsible for prolonging Alan Shearer’s career at Newcastle,
• And the list goes on and on. The surgeon is the number one expert on knee-related injuries for footballers, whether they’re in the Premier League or Championship.

For Steadman, it must be nice for his practice to be located in beautiful Vail and have some of the top athletes from around the world travel directly to his offices. For the players themselves, surgery is never a likeable prospect but at least they have the opportunity to travel to Vail to have it done.

We thought it’d be fun to pick our all-star injury football team featuring those Premier League players that always seem to be injured. Thanks to the EPL Talk readers who participated in last weekend’s EPL Talk Chat for the idea.

1. Chris Kirkland
2. Gary Neville
3. Mikael Silvestre
4. Jonathan Woodgate
5. Ledley King
6. Owen Hargreaves
7. Kieron Dyer
8. Tim Cahill
9. Craig Bellamy
10. Michael Owen
11. Louis Saha

Subs:
Andy Johnson
Mark Viduka
Valeri Bojinov
Emile Heskey
Didier Drogba

What current players are missing that should be featured in this squad? Click the comments link below and let us know.

So, Manchester United has picked up another piece of silverware after beating Portsmouth 3-1 on penalties in the annual curtain raiser to the new season.

The game, which ended 0-0 in regular time, was a bit of a sleeper at times with Man United controlling large portions of the match but unable to score. A main reason for that was Portsmouth’s goalkeeper David James who was stellar between the goalposts for Pompey making several crucial saves. In comparison, Edwin van der Sar was rarely challenged.

Carlos Tevez deservedly was awarded the man of the match award after producing a spirited display on the pitch at Wembley. He was quite the troublemaker in attack for United having one shot brilliantly saved by James, being pulled down in the box — which should have been a penalty, and battling and winning many balls in midfield.

Portsmouth showed glimmers of skill now and again especially in midfield and in defense, but they rarely were able to get the ball to Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch. Pompey’s attack seemed very one dimensional with balls floated in to Crouch, but rarely did the ball reach Crouch and instead was defended well by United’s back four.

The difference between United and Pompey rang true during the penalty kicks. United was calm, cool and collected as they knocked in each of their penalty kicks. In contrast, Portsmouth’s Lassana Diarra, Arnold Mvuemba and Glen Johnson missed all of theirs. If Pompey wants to compete against the big boys, they’ve got a lot of work to do.

What are your thoughts regarding the final? Do you think that United looks beatable this season? Will Manchester United be able to play as well as they did last season without Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Owen Hargreaves for the early part of the season. Share your feedback below by clicking the comments link.

Posted from ChampionsLeagueTalk.com:

Unlike the comedy of errors that Chelsea and Liverpool managed to produce in their first leg match, I have sky-high expectations for the Barcelona – Manchester United match. Barca will look to salvage something from what has been a bit of a lost season for them while United will be looking to overturn last year’s disappointing loss to AC Milan and that’s where our comparison begins. The two clubs are the only unbeaten sides in this season’s Champions League tournament so one of them will have to give but which side will it be?

Barca hold the edge in semi-final victories overall having won four of the eight previous semi-finals they have competed in while United’s nine previous semi-final appearances have yielded only two victories. Also going against United is their record against Spanish opposition in Spain. They have contested 16 matches in Spain and won only once, drawing six and losing nine.

If previous meetings between these two are to be any guage of what to expect, this ought to be another classic. The clubs met twice in the old European Cup Winners’ Cup and have twice found themselves in the same Champions League group. Each tie proved to be memorable for different reasons but for pure drama the first a Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final in March 1984, was arguably the best. United overturned a 2-0 deficit in the second leg at Old Trafford. United went on to lose 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-final’s to Michel Platini’s Juventus. I have not seen the full game from 1984 so the game I most remember is the dramatic 3-3 draw from the group stage in the 1998/99 season. This match had it all and was a display of skill and style that makes football such a beautiful game.

Now, onto this year’s matchup.

Lineups and Tactics
Barcelona were given a huge boost when it was announced that dynamic forward Lionel Messi would be healthy for this fixture. Like Kaka did last year to United, Messi has the ability to single-handedly turn a game with his pace and vision. Captain and anchor of the Barca backline, Carles Puyol, is suspended for this match but Rafael Márquez should be recovered from injury and is likely to start in his place. Thierry Henry has been fighting off a fever/flu and is a doubtful starter but could play a role from the bench. One must keep in mind that Henry has scored nine goals in 18 appearances against the Red Devils.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Valdés — Zambrotta, Milito, Márquez, Abidal — Yaya Touré, Xavi, Iniesta — Eto’o, Messi, Bojan

For Manchester United, Edwin Van der Sar is fit after a groin strain and Wayne Rooney looks to have overcome the hip injury he sustained on Saturday. Both Owen Hargreaves and Anderson have recovered from minor injuries. Gary Neville and Darren Fletcher have also been named in the squad but are unlikely to start.

While United has received plenty of press for their flashy forwards, the outcome of this semi-final depends heavily on how well the back line deals with the danger posed by the likes of Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Thierry Henry and Bojan Krkic. Manchester United trained without key defenders Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown and both are said to be a game-time decision.

It is not a stretch to say that the central defensive partnership of Vidic and Ferdinand has been the cornerstone of United’s success in the past two seasons. This year, no team has conceded fewer goals in the Premier League and only Chelsea FC have let in less in the Champions League. Another factor will be Patrice Evra’s ability to get forward and support the attack. If he is pinned back by Messi, United may struggle to create and will be forced to rely on counter-attacks.

On the offensive side, United will again be looking for their interchanging forwards to confuse and unsettle the opposing defenders.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3): Van der Sar — Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra — Carrick, Scholes, Hargreaves — Cristiano Ronaldo, Tevez, Rooney

Key Matchups:
Lionel Messi v Patrice Evra
As discussed above, Messi can be highly influential in setting the table for the Barcelona attack. He likes to attack from wide positions and Patrice Evra will need to contain his runs and deny him time/space when Messi has possession on the flank. However, Evra also does a lot to support the United attack as he often makes supporting runs down the wing to stretch the opposition defence and open space for the United forwards.

Xavi/Iniesta v Carrick/Hargreaves
Xavi and Andres Iniesta are the twin engines that drive Barcelona’s midfield play. Neither player gets enough credit for their hard work but if Barca has success going forward, these two will be involved. On the other side, you have another pair of talented central midfielders. Owen Hargreaves has had a hard time cracking into the United starting XI, partially due to injury, but he showed in recent performances why United spent big money to sign him from Bayern Munich.

Verdict
The purist in me would like to see another 3-3 draw with lots of flowing passing and end-to-end action. However, it will largely depend on the forces at hand for both sides. If Vidic and Brown are out, I think United may be a bit more conservative, despite speaking about bringing “a positive approach” to the match. For Barcelona, they will need to come out atacking and look to build a lead that they can nurse through the second leg at Old Trafford. It’s tough to go against Barcelona at home but I have to go with the form team at the moment so look for a 2-1 United scoreline.