Owen Hargreaves Set To Return To Manchester United This Weekend Against West Brom

His arrival from Bayern Munich in the summer of '07 gave Manchester United their version of Chelsea's Michael Essien, but since playing a key part in the Red Devils' treble winning 2007-08 team, Owen Hargreaves has been plagued by tendonitis in his knee, a condition that's limited him to three minutes played since September 2008. This weekend, that's scheduled to change, with Hargreaves' surgeon telling the BBC the England international should play some part in United's Saturday match against West Bromwich Albion.

Hargreaves last took the pitch in May against Sunderland, coming on as a substitute in United's next-to-last match of the season. Expected to be fit for the start of the 2010-11 campaign, Hargreaves suffered a set-back that required him to return to Vail, Colorado for treatment. There's where Hargreaves originally underwent surgery in 2008, returning frequently for treatment from surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman.

Hargreaves played 34 matches for Manchester United in 2007-08, helping the team to win titles in Europe (Champions League) and England (Premier League, FA Cup). The versatile midfielder even filled-in at right back during United's injury-plagued run to Moscow, where they defeated Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final.

Since, Hargreaves has only played in three club matches, unable to play for England, for whom he's earned 46 caps since his 2001 debut.

Now three months shy of his 30th birthday, Hargreaves finally looks set to a return, with United host Brom on Saturday, 10:00 a.m. Eastern.