Owen Hargreaves has been left out of the Manchester United squad eligible to compete in this season's Champions League.

The injury-plagued midfielder was included in the 25-man Premier League squad named by Sir Alex Ferguson earlier in the week.

However, he will not be able to feature in the group stages of this season's European competition following his omission.

The 29-year-old England international has made just one substitute appearance during the past two seasons following a lengthy battle with tendinitis in his knees.

Hargreaves, who joined United in a £17million deal from Bayern Munich in 2007, has spent the last six weeks in the United States where he is continuing his rehabilitation following surgery.

Meanwhile, new Portuguese signing Bebe and young Belgian defender Ritchie De Laet have also been left out of the 24-man squad submitted by the Old Trafford club to UEFA.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email