Hargreaves to see Steadman

Midfielder to see knee specialist in bid to end injury nightmare

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 7th November 2008

Hargreaves to see Steadman

Hargreaves: Seeking injury advice

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Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has flown to Colorado to see renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman to see if he can put an end to his injury nightmare.

The midfielder has been out of action for seven weeks and has seen his time at Manchester United constantly interrupted by what the club diagnosed as tendonitis.

It has got so bad that the 27-year-old cannot play two games in the same week for the Reds and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Hargreaves has flown to America.

He said: "Over the last few weeks we have been trying to manage the situation but the way we have been trying to manage it has not given us any answers.

"In the past 10 days we have sent him to a specialist in Sweden, to a specialist in London and he is now in Colorado at the moment seeing Mr Steadman.

Frustrated

"He is of course a very well regarded and well respected doctor and what we are trying to do now is get to the root of it because the poor lad has been frustrated and patient and we have never really got to the bottom of his problem.

"That is why we are now sending him to the best people available to get a general opinion on where we go from here."

Steadman has helped footballers such as Alan Shearer, Michael Owen and Ruud Van Nistelrooy all recover from serious knee injuries in the past and United are hopeful he can do the same for Hargreaves.

Ferguson takes his side to the Emirates on Saturday and the United manager has indicated he is pleased that new security measures have been put in place at the stadium.

The Scot felt he and his back room staff were not properly protected when they were abused by a number of Arsenal fans sat directly behind the away dug-out in last season's 2-2 draw.

He added: "It is quite right they have improved the security. Last year was pretty unsavoury. In fact, I think it was nasty.

"It should not happen when you build a modern stadium like that. It is too open for my liking.

"It is a weakness in the planning that you don't provide safety for the visiting substitutes and staff."