Going, g-Owen, gone

NIGHTMARE ... Owen Hargreaves

OWEN HARGREAVES has admitted he is considering retirement at the age of 31.

The injury-plagued ex-Manchester United and England midfielder was in the crowd in Kiev last night to watch the Three Lions take on Sweden.

He said: “I haven’t decided yet what the future holds for me. I’m doing a few bits and pieces at the moment, spending time with family, that kind of thing.

“I’m only 31, I’m still young enough to carry on playing if I decide to — and there’s a number of options for me to do that.

“But it’s got to be the right fit if I’m going to play on.

“If something comes in which I think is right for me at this stage then I’ll consider it.

“I don’t want to chase something though. I am not forced to do anything. If I can’t get back to the level I used to then I don’t want to play.”

The former Bayern Munich star says he is fit and healthy after spending the season with champions Manchester City when he played just four matches.

But after being freed by boss Roberto Mancini at the end of the season, he thinks he may have come to the end of the road. Yet Hargreaves could be forgiven for wondering what might have been as he took his seat in the Olympic Stadium last night.

Few England fans will forget his heroic display in the 2006 quarter-final against Portugal and he looked set to win more than the 42 caps he has.

But he has been cursed by bad luck since joining United for £18million in 2007 suffering terrible injuries to both knees.

He added: “I can look back on a great career. I had some wonderful times, although obviously the last four years hasn’t gone as well as I’d hoped.” Hargreaves’ move to Manchester City may not have worked out as well as he hoped but he remains grateful for the time he had there.

He is critical of the medical staff at United for treating him like a ‘guinea pig’ but a year at the Etihad has, at least, given him a chance.

Speaking in Kiev to publicise the McDonald’s Player Escort programme, he said: “The really satisfying thing is that I have put myself in a position where I can actually think about it.

“Maybe I will never be in a Champions League final or semi-final again but to get to where I am now is a huge achievement.

“I’m fit and healthy again and my fitness is a lot better than it was.”