Owen Brace Highlights United Strength in Depth
simon | Sep 21, 2011 | Comments 0
Michael Owen scored twice last night as a Manchester United second string easily disposed of Leeds United to reach the fourth round of the Carling Cup. It was a comfortable victory for United and one which highlights the depth of the squad and the quality that is coming through the youth ranks at Old Trafford once again.
Sir Alex Ferguson made 11 changes to the side which beat Chelsea on Sunday, handing youngster Ezekiel Fryers his first team debut as well as giving runouts to the likes of Antonio Valencia and Federico Macheda, his first in a Manchester United shirt in a season where first team appearances are likely to be limited.
However, it was the performance of one of the old guard which gave the most food for thought. Michael Owen is arguably the best English finisher of a generation and were it not for his troublesome hamstring, would still be a mainstay of Fabio Capello’s England team. How the Italian must have wished he could have called on a fit Owen during last summers goalshy World Cup Finals.
His well taken double last night highlighted the remaining quality of Owen and that he has lost none of his predatory instincts, but he is so far away from the first team picture at United that I had genuinely forgotten he was there.
As soon as Javier Hernandez was last season, the Mexican striker had to wait for Danny Welbeck’s ill-timed hamstring injury to regain his place in the United side. With the youngster closing in on full fitness, the battle will resume to partner the undroppable Wayne Rooney, who once again is highlighting as quality as United’s best player. Sales of Rooney replica shirts in the Man Utd shop certainly highlight his return to popularity with fans unhappy with his transfer request last season.
Then there is Dimitar Berbatov, the £30m striker who may not offer the flair or energy of Rooney or Hernandez, but who provides United with a very different option. He is almost certainly ahead of Owen in the pecking order, which makes you wonder where the former Liverpool striker fits into the equation. He will get gametime of course, as injuries will inevitably create openings, but it is a shame that such a talented striker has been reduced to a bit-part role, albeit at England’s top clubs.
All in all, it’s not a bad dilemma to have for Sir Alex and if competition increases performance then the rest of the Barclays Premier League better watch out, as United are just getting started.
Written by Colin Hill, a sports writer who blogs about La Liga Shirts.
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