Ferguson insists Owen is right man for No 7 shirt

Published on Sunday 26 July 2009 23:29

SIR Alex Ferguson believes Michael Owen will turn out to be a worthy wearer of Manchester United's iconic No 7 shirt.

Owen has been handed the shirt last worn by Cristiano Ronaldo to follow a tradition that also includes David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and George Best.

The decision came as a surprise to some United followers, who were opposed to Owen's arrival both because of his background as a Liverpool star and the fact they thought he was finished when he left Newcastle this summer.

However, Owen has put such criticism to one side and finished United's Far East tour on top of the scoring charts after netting a brace in their 8-2 demolition of Chinese Super League outfit Greentown Hangzhou yesterday.

"The criteria for the number seven is quite clear," said Ferguson. "It is a jersey that has been worn by some high-profile players and we have that in Michael Owen.

"You have to choose someone you are confident can carry that on and his profile in the last decade has been outstanding.

"I am not concerned about what the supporters think – it is important to give it to someone who is confident and comfortable and he was a natural choice."

Providing he stays clear of the injuries that disrupted his time at Newcastle so badly, Ferguson is confident that the striker can find the net on a regular basis.

The United manager has already set his new recruit a 15-goal target for his debut season, which would probably be achieved quite comfortably if Owen stays fit, given the number of chances his team-mates tend to create.

"Owen's overall play is well suited to us," he said. "He is very clever in the last third. He knows when to run and when to hold his runs. The experience he gives in that position is vital.

"It's not the acid test but things are looking good with that signing because, given his abilities and understanding of play in the last third, we know he will get goals."

And, while Owen has yet to be on the pitch at the same time as England colleague Wayne Rooney, the 29-year-old has struck up a productive partnership with Dimitar Berbatov, who scored and set up both goals for his fellow striker as well as one each for Zoran Tosic and Nani.

"We are not in bad shape," said Ferguson. "It was our intention to use different pairings with the strikers, and we have some strong options.

"Federico Macheda has shown good development for a 17-year-old boy. We also have the experience of Berbatov and Owen, and we all know the expectation surrounding Wayne Rooney."

Their Asian adventure over, United now head to Munich, where they will meet more meaningful opposition in the Audi Cup.

Nemanja Vidic and 17m former Wigan man Antonio Valencia will join their team-mates in Germany but the trip has come just too soon for Owen Hargreaves, who will continue his recovery from operations on both knees.

Boca Juniors lie in wait on Wednesday, with either Bayern Munich or AC Milan the opponents 24 hours later in what represents a true test of how much work has been done over the past ten days.

"I know it might not be judged properly because people may think the opposition was weaker, but some of our follow-up play and penetration was first-class tonight," said Ferguson.

"For that reason I am delighted. The speed of the play at times in the first half in particular was really really good and an indication that we are starting to come to our pitch in terms of fitness, timing and the tempo of the game."

Ryan Giggs also expects Owen to shine for United this coming season,

and is convinced his surprise acquisition will prove to be a sharp bit of business.

"It just proves what we all knew anyway, that he's a goalscorer," Giggs said of Owen's showing in the Far East. "He scores all kinds of goals and he's done really well so far."

Ferguson added:

"Michael's excited to move to a club where there's attacking play all the time, and I think that's what he needs."