Sir Alex Ferguson might need to revise the 15-goal
target that he has set his revitalised summer signing, after Owen
scored twice in a 8-2 victory against Hangzhou Greentown in the
extravagantly named Yellow Dragon Cave Stadium.
The victory, which included a second-half hat-trick from Ryan
Giggs and goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Zoran Tosic and Nani,
ensured that United concluded their four-game Far East tour with a
100 per cent record. But the big plus for United and Ferguson in
Asia has been Owen.
Written off as damaged goods by many following relegation with
Newcastle last season, the 29 year-old is now suggesting that his
free transfer could be the bargain of the season. Not only has Owen
found his goal touch, he has also shown signs of a potentially
lethal partnership with Berbatov. If Owen scores the goals and
brings the best out of Berbatov in a United shirt, memories of
Cristiano Ronaldo might not haunt Ferguson’s team after all.
Ferguson said: “This tour is not the acid test, but given
Michael’s ability and understanding of play around the last third,
I think he will be getting goals and things are looking good for us
in that position.
“His contribution in overall play is suited to us. He is very
clever in the last third and knows when to run and when to hold
runs. That, linked with the experience he gives in that position,
will be good for us.”
Owen's burgeoning partnership with Dimitar Berbatov has been
the highlight of Manchester United's pre-season
Owen’s injuries and his Liverpool past have led to some
United followers questioning his right to the club’s No 7 shirt,
but Ferguson is not troubled by such talk.
“I am not concerned with what supporters think,” he said. “The
important thing is to give the shirt to someone who is confident to
carry it and Michael is the natural one to get it.”
Perhaps as a result of his glory days with England and
Liverpool, Owen has been feted – with the exception of Ji-Sung Park
in Seoul – as the most popular and recognisable United player
throughout the Far East tour.
The hard work begins now for Owen, however. United’s two-game
trip to Munich for the Audi Cup later this week, where they play
Boca Juniors on Wednesday before facing Bayern Munich or AC Milan
on Thursday, will provide a much sterner test.
Ferguson is likely to pair Owen with Wayne Rooney in Munich. The
former England team-mates have not shared a minute on the pitch in
the Far East, with one replacing the other in the four games on
tour.
Nemanja Vidic, £17 million summer signing Antonio Valencia and
teenage forward Danny Welbeck will join the United squad when they
arrive in Munich on Monday morning.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): Van der Sar (Foster
h-t); Fabio, Ferdinand (Brown 59), Evans, Evra; Tosic, Fletcher
(Giggs 59), Scholes (Anderson 59), Nani (Park 59); Berbatov (Gibson
70), Owen (Rooney h-t). Subs: O'Shea, Macheda, Carrick.
