Hargreaves determined to return to the top

19th March 2010

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves insists he can rediscover his best form.

Hargreaves ended an 18-month injury nightmare on Thursday night when he made a 45-minute appearance in the reserve side's victory over Burnley at Altrincham's Moss Lane.

It is the first step in what could be an extended battle to regain his place, both at Old Trafford and also in the England team. Even the World Cup has not been entirely ruled out as the 29-year-old inches further forward in his recovery programme.

But Hargreaves' ultimate aim is to rediscover the form that made him England's player of the 2006 World Cup and persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to invest £18million on him 12 months later.

"I had better get there," said the former Bayern Munich star. "I am not coming back to just be one of the guys and to fill a spot. I have never been that way and, if that was the case, then I would rather walk away.

"I am coming back to have an impact and hopefully I can do it this season."

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