Fergie: Injuries stopped Owen being great

ALEX FERGUSON believes that ‘fantastic’ Michael Owen would have gone down as one of the goal-scoring greats but for the injuries which wrecked his career.

The Manchester United boss could come up against his former striker one last time when he sends his team out at struggling Stoke today.

Owen, 33, recently announced he will retire at the end of the season and bring the curtain down on a career which has produced more than 260 goals for club and country.

Yet Fergie — who had him at Old Trafford for three years until last June — admits that tally could easily have been way higher.

The Scot, 71, said: “There was always something about Michael. You found it hard to leave him out if he was fit. I thought he was a fantastic footballer, I really did. He was unlucky.

“He was one of these players that was beset by injuries. He was not soft. He just had recurring hamstring problems all his career and I think if he had not had those injuries, God knows what goal total he would have had.”

Owen managed just 15 goals in three injury-hit seasons at United before he was released last summer. Yet Ferguson points to the selection dilemma he had before the Champions League final in 2011 as an example of the faith he had in him.

He said: “There was the case when I left Berbatov out of the European final. I looked at my subs and thought if I was a goal down with a minute to go who would I depend on? Berba or Michael? Michael won hands down, no doubt about that.

“He never missed a training session. Every morning he was always there. He showed a great desire to be part of the scene here.

“And he improved as a footballer, really. Technically he got better, even though he was in his thirties.”

Owen joined Stoke in the summer but has made only a handful of appearances and managed only one goal. And there will be no room for sentiment today.

Tony Pulis’ men are looking over their shoulders while United need to put their recent wobble — a derby defeat to City — behind them.

Last year United threw away an eight-point lead with six remaining.

But Fergie said: “It feels different from last season.

“We lost the league last season through carelessness — 4-2 up against Everton. Carelessness.

“We can win the seven games there is no question about that. The great thing is the consistency this season has been terrific.”