Hargreaves told to focus

Fergie wants midfielder to concentrate on club football

Last updated: 20th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hargreaves told to focus

Hargreaves: Close to return

We deserve some service from out of him. Talk about World Cups? He has been out for a year-and-a-half.

Sir Alex Ferguson on Owen Hargreaves
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Sir Alex Ferguson says that Owen Hargreaves should put aside his international aspirations and concentrate on breaking back into the Manchester United side.

The 29-year-old recently returned to reserve team action after a nightmare 18-month spell on the sidelines.

Hargreaves has been a part of the last two World Cup squads, but his injury lay-off has made selection for South Africa an unlikely prospect.

And Ferguson believes that the former Bayern Munich midfielder's ambitions should now be solely focused on his career at Old Trafford.

"We deserve some service from out of him," he said.

"Talk about World Cups? He has been out for a year-and-a-half.

"There is nothing wrong with talking about it but he should be concentrating on playing for Manchester United."

Fitness

Ferguson is glad to see Hargreaves returning to full fitness, but admits that he will need a few more reserve run-outs before he is ready for the first team.

He added: "I am delighted for him. He has been out of the game for 18 months, which is very difficult.

"He will need a couple of games more with the reserves.

"After that he should be back in the first-team squad. It is a good one to get at this time of the season."

The 68-year-old manager is confident that Hargreaves can now go on to have a prolonged and successful spell in the starting line-up.

"We had experience of this long interval without playing with Gary Neville," said Ferguson.

"Owen has the advantage of being a younger man. Hopefully now he is back for a continued period."