They could do with another goal-getter, but is injury prone Owen really the answer? Ricardo Vaz Te has the potential and looks like he could be an accomplished Premiership striker, but Carlton Cole has not exactly lit up the league in his previous excursions, and only hit 15 goals in the Championship last term. So another forward is definitely needed for the Irons whether it’s a veteran such as Owen or a youngster from the youth set-up. If he can steer clear of long-term injuries then he would be most definitely worth a punt for a free, but it seems highly unlikely that he would play regularly due to his ravaged hamstring.
Can he still do a decent job for a Premiership side? Is he being arrogant in refusing to drop a division to ply his trade? When he plays he is often effective – as last season’s League Cup tie with Leeds United proved when he scored two goals – but that is when he plays, which is about as often as a dignified wannabe Big Brother contestant. Opportunities were limited at Old Trafford due to injuries and the fact that he had the likes of Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov ahead of him in the pecking order, but when he was called upon, he usually did the business.
The winner against Manchester City in stoppage time nearly three years ago, and an equalising goal in the League Cup final against Aston Villa that set United on their way to a 2-1 victory, showed he could still be a big time player, although he was taken off soon after in the latter game because of an injury. It is the frequency of his bodily mishaps coupled with high wages that are sure to put off some budding suitors. 18 starts in three years in all competitions for the Red Devils tells its ow(e)n story, which means many clubs will only have him on a pay-as-you-play basis.
He may look at other players receiving the same ridiculous amounts of money and feel he warrants something in the same region, but considering how delicate his body is, he should be willing to take a drop in wages and a division, and be grateful for the chance that any side may give him.
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