Owen vows to continue career after Old Trafford release

Michael Owen has no intention of retiring following his release by Manchester United.

The former England striker said United will not be offering him a new contract when his deal expires this summer. That led to speculation that the 32-year-old could quit the game after three injury-ravaged years at Old Trafford, but he insists he intends to play on.

Owen said: “At 32, I definitely owe it to myself to have two or three years and play a bit more – but for somebody else.”

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The former Liverpool prodigy joined United on a free transfer from Newcastle in 2009 but was unable to reignite his once glittering career due to a succession of injuries. He made four appearances in the season just ended and has not played compet- itively since November.

The highlight of his time at United was his injury-time winner in a pulsating 4-3 derby victory over Manchester City in September 2009, a goal which endeared him to fans previously sceptical because of his Liverpool connections. He also struck in the 2010 Carling Cup final win over Aston Villa but was forced off injured later in that game.

That ended any chances of an international recall in time for that summer’s World Cup and his England career has remained stalled on 40 goals in 89 appearances since 2008. Yet having seen Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs perform for United at the ages of 37 and 38 respectively, he feels compelled to play on.

He said: “I am only 32. I might look a bit older than that but looking at the likes of Scholesy and Giggsy, it doesn’t half fill you with a lot of motivation and confidence. They are playing into their mid-to-late thirties and I still feel as if I am reasonably young.”

Owen says he only wants to play on at top-flight level, whether at home or abroad. He said: “I don’t think the Championship would be an option if I am totally honest. I don’t feel I have lost the ability to score goals or play at a high level. I have been playing and training with top players all my life and that was one of the attractions in going to Man Utd. We will wait to see where that is. If it is not the Premier League then I may look farther afield. I don’t think I will be dropping into the Championship.”

Owen burst on to the scene as a teenager with Liverpool in 1997. He left Anfield for Real Madrid in 2004 but returned to the Premier League at Newcastle a year later. He was then offered a opportunity by United and scored 17 goals in 52 appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men but started only 18 games after accepting a role as a squad player.