Hargreaves: I was treated like a guinea pig

Owen Hargreaves has spoken out about the injuries which blighted his time with his former club Manchester United, claiming he felt like a "guinea pig" while having treatment on knee problems.

The 30–year–old spent four seasons at Old Trafford, but persistent tendinitis resulted in the player undergoing double knee surgery during the 2008/09 season.

Following the operations, Hargreaves played just six minutes of first–team football as he battled to regain fitness and was eventually released by United at the end of last season.

He is now enjoying a new lease of life after signing for Manchester City and scored on his debut against Birmingham in the Carling Cup in midweek.

However, Hargreaves claims the medical treatment he received at United did more harm than good.

"I received some injections but my tendon was never the same," he said. "After the injections, I tried to get back on my feet and they said my tendon was good, but it felt like I was made out of glass. That obviously had a huge impact.”

Hargreaves, who will sit out City’s home Premier League game against Everton tomorrow lunchtime, is hoping his injury nightmare is behind him, although he is aware he will have to manage himself well in order to avoid more knee problems in the future.