OWEN Hargreaves is set to become United's VIP after being earmarked for a Champions League comeback in early November.
The
28-year-old midfielder's return after 12 months out with knee problems
is a boost for Sir Alex Ferguson and could be a plus for England coach
Fabio Capello ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
Fergie
included Hargreaves in his Euro 25 submitted to UEFA and believes he
will be ready to play in the matches against CSKA Moscow at Old
Trafford on November 3, the home game with Besiktas on November 25 and
the final Group match in Wolfsburg on December 8.
Hargreaves
has been in the US doing rehab after two knee operations last season
and is due back at United's Carrington training HQ in a fortnight.
The
midfielder was chosen at the expense of Serbian international Zoran
Tosic and deciding on the names for his European squad ahead of the
opening to the Champions League campaign in Istanbul against Besiktas
next Tuesday proved a tough decision for Ferguson.
"We had difficulty what we should do about Owen Hargreaves whether to put him in the 25," said the United manager.
"It
was Owen or Zoran or Ritchie de Laet. It was a dilemma. But we came
down on the side of Hargreaves because having taken the medical advice
we think he will be available for the last three Champions League games.
"In
that respect it is the time when we would want to push him a bit. He is
also a versatile player who can perform in so many positions.
"He could be a very important player for us at that time of the season.
"It is disappointing for Zoran but there is nothing we can do about it. There have been others left out."
with fletcher in this kind of form, hargreaves find it hard to fit into the team.