Fergie realistic over Hargreaves

SIR Alex Ferguson has admitted he harbours serious concerns about the career of Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

The 29–year–old arrived from Bayern Munich with such high expectations three years ago.

Unfortunately, he also landed at Old Trafford with a chronic tendinitis problem that, after a stellar 2008, which saw Hargreaves win both the Premier League and Champions League, required surgery on his knees that kept him out for over 19 months.

A further setback followed this summer and then, when Hargreaves did make a surprise return against Wolves in November, the £18million star lasted barely five minutes before tearing his hamstring.

Now Hargreaves has gone to Germany for what Ferguson describes as “therapeutic” treatment and the Scot’s concern is obvious.

“He has not played for over two years so we would have to be super–optimistic to think everything in the garden was rosy about comebacks,” said Ferguson ahead of tonight’s final Champions League group game at home to Valencia.

Ferguson insists Hargreaves was ready to make his comeback when he was thrown into the fray at Old Trafford a month ago, even though he had no warm–up games as build–up.

The midfielder signalled there was a problem within a couple of minutes of kick–off, and though he did try to battle through the pain, he found it was impossible.