Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Michael Owen

Michael Owen and his daughter Gemma Rose

Regaining his confidence and his prowess as a predator would, you imagine, not be sufficient to secure him a starting place. He does not have the speed to serve as a spearhead nor the dynamism to be an offensive fulcrum, nor even to pester tired defences in the way Tevez can. And - his sporadic flourishes 'in the hole' for Newcastle under Keegan notwithstanding – he is not creative or forceful enough to provide the presence or goals from midfield that United will miss with the departure of Ronaldo and the continued waning of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. He does offer the experience and nous that Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck currently lack but probably not enough to even replicate the role briefly played at Old Trafford by Henrik Larsson. The Owen-style of player is a near anachronism, that with which only the biggest clubs can afford to persist. Owen's role at United will, if he signs, be to spring off the bench on occasions when United are creating chances but failing to convert them. He will be to United what Kris Boyd is to Rangers, only less so.