Will Hargreaves Return Improve United?

When Man Utd signed Owen Hargreaves in the summer of 2007 there were mixed reactions, some were happy to see United finally sign a combative midfielder whilst others felt the £17m fee was too high. In his first season he would go some way to proving his worth with a series of solid performances not only in central midfield but also on the right wing (looking especially good in a tie against Roma in the CL quarter final) and at right back. The £17m fee looked like a decent investment as he helped United regain the Premier League as well as win the Champions League.

But Hargreaves was denied the chance to build on his solid debut season as in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge Hargreaves limped off and hasn’t been seen since.

Now and after initially being set a September return date, Hargreaves could return for United on December 8^th against Wolfsburg, and not a minute too soon.

Any United fan that says the club hasn’t missed him is a liar. Just look at the Liverpool match where Michael Carrick could not afford Paul Scholes the protection he needed and the duo were overrun by Javier Mascherano and Lucas. A fit Hargreaves is industrious putting in the work not only in his half but the opposition’s too hounding players, forcing mistakes.

All too often when United have lost games it has been because they have lost the battle in midfield, last season at Anfield Xabi Alonso was given the freedom of the pitch and Liverpool duly won the game 2-1, the Champions League final Xavi and Andres Iniesta were allowed to dictate the pace and direction of the game and thus United were made to look like amateurs as they lost 2-0.

The progress Darren Fletcher has recently made has been astounding but he isn’t one to sit and hold rather he gets about and whilst Hargreaves can also do that job if the two of them were to be paired in midfield it would more likely be Hargreaves sitting deep. Also he could play the same role while partnering Anderson thus freeing the Brazilian to get forward and join up with attacks. That’s the advantage of Hargreaves, he is so versatile and playing in a multitude of roles and positions so to have him in your team is like having two players.

Hargreaves’ return will be like signing a new player for United and it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and thus forget the fact he is quite injury prone. If he does break down again all the anticipation of his return will have been for nothing and what then looked like a sound £17m investment will appear now appear like wasted money.