Little Pea earns Owen plaudits

MICHAEL Owen has admitted Javier Hernandez's emergence at Manchester United has put him in the shade.

With his two-year contract due to expire in the summer, it is now anticipated Owen will be leaving Old Trafford, whether he helps the club to Premier League and Champions League glory or not.

And one of the reasons for that will be the stellar form shown by ‘Little Pea’ Hernandez since his arrival at Old Trafford as a virtual unknown from Mexican club side Chivas.

There are plenty who make a direct comparison between the 22-year-old's rapid movement and Owen.

The former England striker is not convinced it is true of his early days. But in more recent times, Owen accepts there are obvious similarities.

“With injuries and the way I have adapted my game, he is probably quite similar to what I do now. He is 10 years younger of course, so maybe he is a better version of the current Michael Owen.

As a substitute in the 1-0 weekend defeat at Arsenal, Owen should have been awarded a penalty that could have brought United a precious point.

With Dimitar Berbatov, the 31-year-old has already been promised a starting berth for tomorrow's Champions League semi-final by Sir Alex Ferguson, as United look to defend their two-goal advantage.