Owen Hargreaves will miss the start of the season due to injury, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has announced.
United midfielder sidelined with knee problem
Owen Hargreaves will miss the start of the season due to injury, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has announced.
The midfielder, who made just one appearance for United last season following an 18-month absence through injury, has suffered another setback after a series of knee problems.
The Red Devils depart for their training camp in Chicago on Monday for their summer tour, which Hargreaves was expected to be part of, but the 29-year-old will instead have further treatment.
"The bad news is that Owen Hargreaves is back in America seeing a specialist," Ferguson told
MUTV.
"He will not be ready for the start of the season. I do not know when he will be back."
Doubt
Ferguson is also unsure over whether Rio Ferdinand will be fit for the first game of the season against Newcastle.
The defender sustained a knee injury while training for England ahead of the World Cup and was sidelined for the South Africa tournament.
"Rio will probably not make the start of the season," added Ferguson. "It will be close. It depends on his progress over the next few weeks."
Striker Michael Owen will also skip the tour as he builds up his fitness after a hamstring injury, but Ferguson is pleased with his recovery.
"Michael is doing great. He is working in the gym every day," he said. "I do not think he will be fit to go to America but he should be ready for the start of the season."
The Old Trafford boss says Antonio Valencia and Nani are likely to be available for the Newcastle match after suffering an ankle injury and broken collarbone respectively, while Anderson is on course to make a comeback in September following a knee injury.
Ferguson added: "Cruciates are cruciates. He is doing fine and working hard."
