Sir Alex Ferguson might need to revise the 15-goal target that he has set his revitalised summer signing, after Owen scored twice in a 8-2 victory against Hangzhou Greentown in the extravagantly named Yellow Dragon Cave Stadium.
The victory, which included a second-half hat-trick from Ryan Giggs and goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Zoran Tosic and Nani, ensured that United concluded their four-game Far East tour with a 100 per cent record. But the big plus for United and Ferguson in Asia has been Owen.
Written off as damaged goods by many following relegation with Newcastle last season, the 29 year-old is now suggesting that his free transfer could be the bargain of the season. Not only has Owen found his goal touch, he has also shown signs of a potentially lethal partnership with Berbatov. If Owen scores the goals and brings the best out of Berbatov in a United shirt, memories of Cristiano Ronaldo might not haunt Ferguson’s team after all.
Ferguson said: “This tour is not the acid test, but given Michael’s ability and understanding of play around the last third, I think he will be getting goals and things are looking good for us in that position.
“His contribution in overall play is suited to us. He is very clever in the last third and knows when to run and when to hold runs. That, linked with the experience he gives in that position, will be good for us.”
Owen's burgeoning partnership with Dimitar Berbatov has been the highlight of Manchester United's pre-season
Owen’s injuries and his Liverpool past have led to some United followers questioning his right to the club’s No 7 shirt, but Ferguson is not troubled by such talk.
“I am not concerned with what supporters think,” he said. “The important thing is to give the shirt to someone who is confident to carry it and Michael is the natural one to get it.”
Perhaps as a result of his glory days with England and Liverpool, Owen has been feted – with the exception of Ji-Sung Park in Seoul – as the most popular and recognisable United player throughout the Far East tour.
The hard work begins now for Owen, however. United’s two-game trip to Munich for the Audi Cup later this week, where they play Boca Juniors on Wednesday before facing Bayern Munich or AC Milan on Thursday, will provide a much sterner test.
Ferguson is likely to pair Owen with Wayne Rooney in Munich. The former England team-mates have not shared a minute on the pitch in the Far East, with one replacing the other in the four games on tour.
Nemanja Vidic, £17 million summer signing Antonio Valencia and teenage forward Danny Welbeck will join the United squad when they arrive in Munich on Monday morning.
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): Van der Sar (Foster h-t); Fabio, Ferdinand (Brown 59), Evans, Evra; Tosic, Fletcher (Giggs 59), Scholes (Anderson 59), Nani (Park 59); Berbatov (Gibson 70), Owen (Rooney h-t). Subs: O'Shea, Macheda, Carrick.
