'Unlucky' Michael Owen running out of time to extend Manchester United stay

Manchester United striker Michael Owen

Michael Owen has three games to save his Manchester United career starting with the epic Manchester derby on April 30.

The former England international has returned to training after spending five months out with a thigh injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled him out ofSunday'sclash with Everton, but the 32-year-old will be in contention for a place on the bench in the remaining three games of the season.

Owen is out of contract in the summer and has played only four times this campaign.

His only Premier League appearance came as a substitute against Stoke in September.

Ferguson said: He is back in training, which is good news. As Ive said time and time again if there is a player who can score at any time in a match its Michael. We welcome him back. Hes had a hard time.

At the moment what we want to do is try to get Michael back. If I get him back and he continues his training then hes certainly a consideration as a substitute in the important games coming up.

He wont be involved Sunday because hes not done enough training, but you never know with the rest of the programme.

Even if Owen does manage to get involved in the games against City, Swansea and Sunderland between now and the end of the season, he is fighting a losing battle to secure a future at Old Trafford.

Since joining as a free agent from Newcastle in 2009, he has made only 18 starts as injury has curtailed his progress.

Although his finishing prowess remains with 17 goals in all it would represent a major gamble for Ferguson to offer him a fresh one-year extension.

The United manager made the shock decision of handing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid forward a new! deal la st year after naming him ahead of Dimitar Berbatov as a substitute for the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.

But Owen has slipped even further down the pecking order following the emergence of Danny Welbeck this season as the first-choice partner for Wayne Rooney.

Berbatov is also heading for the exit door, despite United being set to activate a one-year extension in his contract.

Owen is determined to try to end his career at Old Trafford but Fergusons assessment of his fitness record is far from encouraging.

When he gets an injury its never an easy one, said the United manager. Its always months rather than weeks. Thats an unfortunate part of his career because we are
talking about a really fantastic striker. A top striker.

Hes a very unlucky lad. But for those injuries, whos to say what sort of a career hed have had in terms of goals. Sometimes you get an unlucky player. Hes one of them.

Another unlucky player is Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who has seen a knee injury decimate a season that started with such promise.

Ferguson added: He wont play again this season. There are only four games left, so its going to be difficult for him.

I dont think he has realised his potential. I think his potential is there to see. He is a fantastic footballer. I just hope he doesnt have the bad luck that Michael Owen has had all his career.

At 23 years of age, hes still very young and Im sure we will get the remedy to that. Im sure we will sort that out.

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What should United do with Owen and Anderson? Have your say.

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