Owen Hargreaves has vowed to show the Manchester United supporters his true ability this season.
United midfielder vows to show true colours
Owen Hargreaves has vowed to show the Manchester United supporters his true ability this season.
The England international insists he was never more than 60 per cent fit last term, with a recurring tendonitis problem preventing him from securing a regular place in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
The injury resurfaced once again over the summer, but the United medical team believe they are better placed to deal with the issue this time around.
The Red Devils' next Premier League outing, at Portsmouth next Monday, may come too soon for the midfielder, but he is adamant that he once he does return to the side he can look forward to a prolonged period of action.
Potential
"There is a lot more to come from me," he said.
"I don't think I played a game healthy last season. I was at about 50 or 60% at best.
"When I had another scan on the knee this summer it had not improved, so I came back early to try to fix it at the beginning of pre-season.
"Hopefully I will be fit pretty soon.
"I know how much I better I can get being around the players and coaching staff here.
"I have not even come close to fulfilling my potential yet. And, providing I stay healthy, this could be a really big season for me."
Timetable
Disappointingly for Hargreaves, an injury picked up by Michael Carrick against Newcastle at the weekend would have seen him handed a spot back in his favoured holding midfield role.
The former Bayern Munich man is refusing to get too downbeat, though, and feels that everything will turn out fine in the end - just like it did last season when he helped United claim domestic and European glory.
"I am not going to set a timetable but I am close," he said.
"I am working on my fitness every day and while I have not joined in with the lads yet, hopefully it will happen this week.
"Whether I am fit for Portsmouth or the match after that, the most important thing is I am healthy for the rest of the season."
