Manchester United has announced this week that they will not be offering Michael Owen a new contract so where’s he going to go? Is he still worthy to play Premier League football? Or is it time for him to hang up his boots?
We all remember that moment minutes into the 2006 World Cup game against Sweden when Michael Owen crumbled off his own accord with a horrific knee injury. Since that moment Michael Owen's career hasn’t ever been the same with his erratic fitness. It came to a shock in 2009 when he transferred to Manchester United on a free transfer. However his 3 years at Manchester United hasn’t been spent playing football, with only 52 appearances in all competitions and only 4 this season. Has he still got what it takes to play in the best league in the world or is it time to downgrade?
It is undoubtedly evident that Owen hasn’t had the opportunity to play regular football due to his unfortunate series of injuries within recent years. Owen managed to make first team status for United during their UEFA Champions League group stage match against Romanian side Otelul Galati in November 2011 however was substituted within the first half due to a thigh injury. Since then he has been working hard in training to regain full fitness and was picked as a substitute for Man United’s league game against Sunderland. With Owen fit once again, and United letting him go which Premier League club is going to take the risk of signing him?
What will determine whether Michael Owen gets to play Premier League football again will be the club who is willing to take the gamble on him. With his injury record he could be too much of a liability for clubs to take on. If any club is prepared to take on the striker there would have to be a massive drop in wages to due to the liability, or a pay as you play contract. It is certain that he will score goals given the opportunity and he definitely has a few more years in him. Look at Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs for example. There is without doubt still room for him in the Premier League as his contribution to a club will be successful once fit, just where the question is.
With West Ham favourites to win today's play-off final against Blackpool at Wembley, if the bookies are right, West Ham could be a potential home for Owen. They’re already a big club and if promoted into the Premier League tomorrow they could be looking for the fight to start next season with some vital experience backing them. He could also be a great attribute to the struggling Aston Villa side. Villa will be starting the season with a new manager and will want to prove themselves after their dreadful finish last season, and what better way to establish themselves than to sign England legend that is Michael Owen. However if any offers come from clubs the first thing Owen might be doing is checking out the treatment room as that could potentially be the place he spends most of his time. Hopefully this should not be the case.
We should respect what he has done for us as a player for club and country and not turn our back on him in the first instance. He will score goals for any club given the opportunity. Which club should take that gamble?
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