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Grieving no more

Comment: 0 September 2nd, 2011 by: admin
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OWEN Hargreaves is a fighter. He is someone who would not give up that easily. He has the will and a way to carry on.

With a banged-up body and positive frame of mind that won’t just crumble and succumb to the rigours of the game, he is giving it one last try in his career. Probably for one more year, or maybe so, depending on how he would perform.

Hargreaves, written off by other teams because of his injuries, has been given a new lease on life by Manchester City.

The big-spending club made him the most unexpected signing of the summer window by granting him a one-year deal.

Beset by knee, shoulder and hamstring troubles, Hargreaves was released by Manchester United at the end of last term. After four- injury-blighted years in which he made only 39 appearances, Sir Alex Ferguson dumped him like a hot potato. He has been linked to West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City but deals did not go far.

UNDER CITY CARE
But City saw otherwise and played the saviour’s role. They believe the 30-year-old midfielder still has enough gas left in his tank so they took him under their wings. Or was the move only meant to spite rivals United?

Hargreaves’ career reached its zenith in the 2006 World Cup in Germany when he was England’s finest player. He was capped 42 times as a member of the Three Lions. In 2007, United signed him up from Bayern Munich and finished his first season at Old Trafford by capturing the Premier League-Champions League double.

His fortunes have since turned sour, however, and he found himself searching for a club that would still find him of use. He posted videos on YouTube as he worked out in a gym to prove he is in tip-top shape.

City proved to be the club who still fancy him. Though his acquisition is seen as a huge gamble, City may benefit if he recovers and eventually delivers. If so, his short contract may be protracted and detractors would be mortified.

While Hargreaves’ return was warmly welcomed by his new teammates at City like Joe Hart and Joeleon Lescott, sceptics looked the other way around. And surprise of all surprises, his former England and United teammate Wayne Rooney is among those who are suspecting his ability to rise again.

WAYNE’S REMARKS
Rooney frankly said that Hargreaves will find it difficult to regain his best form having been out of commission for two years, but he also wished that the latter could really regain his bearings.

The United striker may be right but to underestimate Hargreaves this early is utterly premature and of course unprofessional. Was this pre-judging another effect of his newly-transplanted hair that has been giving him not only extra energy on the pitch but also the licence to ridicule people?

If Rooney was unkind to Hargreaves, England coach Fabio Capello is not. In fact, the Italian boss had only words of encouragement for his former standout.

Capello threw a lifeline of hope to Hargreaves by saying he still has an international future with the Three Lions. But he needs time to fully recover, the manager added, to get on the right direction of reviving his England career.

The Canada-born Hargreaves himself revealed that he will not be able to rush back to action since he is still short of match fitness although his conviction to get back to serious business is unwavering.

“It’s important that you get back into a rhythm of playing,’’ he said, “because there are tons of games coming this season in various competitions.’’
Hargreaves’ awareness of the fierce competitions coming simply implies that he is ready to take on them. “I like to measure myself against the best and I’ve always taken on challenges.’’

But if he wants to silence the critics, he must come up with a solid performance once he scurries to the pitch to show everyone that he is fit to last the route, receive harsh tackles and most importantly devise plays that would result into goals for City, or that he himself can contribute to goal production. But with all the talents City has in midfield, can Hargreaves get sufficient playing time to share his expertise?

GOOD GAMBLE?
City may have gambled big in snaring Hargreaves. But they may reap juicy dividends in the end because Hargreaves knows in more ways than one that he can breathe life back to his career with the Eastlands side. And if Hargreaves can show United that he can still be reckoned with, City should claim victory in their battle of wits and nerves.

He is a player who has a point to prove after battling all those injuries and he knows City would give him all the room to accomplish his mission. “This move just fits,’’ he said, summing up his relocation.”You’ve got to trust your instincts.’’

And Rooney should keep his eyes peeled for Hargreaves may have been down before, but he is not yet definitely out.

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