• Owen has not played since a hamstring injury in
October
• 'The hard bit is getting back into the squad,' he says
The Manchester
United striker
Michael Owen has declared
himself fit for the club's Christmas fixtures.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United forward
has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in the Premier
League leaders' goalless draw at Sunderland on 2 October.
United face Sunderland again at Old Trafford on Boxing Day
before travelling to Birmingham City two days later and then West
Bromwich Albion on New Year's Day.
Owen told the club's
website: "I'm fit and
I've been in full training for three and a half weeks. The hard bit
now is getting back into the side, trying to force my way back into
the squad. That's not easy at Manchester United."
United remain unbeaten and have taken advantage of Chelsea's
recent loss of form to move top of the table with three successive
wins.
Owen admits that, although the competition for places at United
is tough, it does at least mean players do not have to be rushed
back from injuries.
That is crucial for the 31-year-old, who has suffered hamstring
problems throughout his career and missed the end of last season –
and the faint possibility of going to the World Cup – because of
one. He also had a groin injury earlier in the season and the
Sunderland game was his only Premier League start of the current
campaign.
"There are that many quality players at United that you're given
as much time as you need to come back from injury. I injured my
hamstring at the beginning of October, which kept me out for six
weeks.
"Since then I've been able to train fully and work my way back
up to full fitness – now I'm fit and hope to play a part in the
games over Christmas."
UNITED's play 4 matches in 9 days...
26 Sunderland
(H)
28 Birmingham (A)
1 West Brom (A)
4 Stoke
(H)
