Hargreaves Steps Up Comeback

Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves has joined in first-team training for the first time following his long-term injury problems as he aims to return to action before the end of the season.

Sir Alex Ferguson took the England international out of the reserve team line-up for Thursday night's trip to Burnley as he aims to get Hargreaves back to full fitness.

The midfielder played his first game for 18 months in the reserves against the Clarets last week but will not be joining Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side on Thursday night.

"Owen won't play for the reserves," Ferguson told the club's official website.

"He's going to be training with the first team and we'll see where that takes him.

"We're keen to get him back involved because he's an experienced player and will be a valuable addition for us in the run-in, when having a strong, fit squad is vital."

Hargreaves is only eligible for the Premier League as he was not registered for the UEFA Champions League knockout phase because of uncertainty over his recovery.

And the player himself has admitted there were times during his long fight for fitness that he wondered whether he would ever play again.

"It is only human to think that way," he said.

"The longest injury before that was when I broke my leg at Bayern Munich and I was out for a couple of months.

"Football is a physical game and injuries are part of it. But I could never imagine having one that has impacted on me so much.

"I thought - everyone thought - I would be fit for the start of the season. It didn't materialise.

"It has been a pretty humbling experience and I am sure many people doubted me, but anybody who knows me, knows that what I set my mind to, I get."