Owen - Injuries not a concern (From Congleton Guardian)

Owen - Injuries not a concern

5:39am Saturday 4th July 2009

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New Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he is fighting fit and his injury-plagued past should not be a concern.

The 29-year-old signed a two-year deal on Friday after swift negotiations which lasted less than 48 hours. A chequered history with injuries was thought to have deterred most of England's top clubs from considering signing the out-of-contract striker but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no hesitation.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical," said Owen. "I passed my medical and I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made out of it but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury prone."

His manager will hope not as, if he can stay fit, Owen could still have plenty of goals left in him.

"Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said Ferguson, who is a long-time admirer of a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen will see his move to Old Trafford as a double challenge: first he has to show he can still score goals at the highest level and, second, he wants to use his higher profile to regain his England place with a World Cup looming next summer.

The promise of Champions League football and a realistic chance of winning some, if not all, domestic trophies gives Owen plenty of games to prove himself all over again. A return to elite-level football, having struggled at St James' Park before they were eventually relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship, was one of the deciding factors in choosing Old Trafford.

That and the backing he received from Ferguson after a hastily-arranged breakfast meeting on Thursday.

"I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me," said Owen. "I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands."

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