Rio: Predator Owen will fire us to trophies
MANCHESTER UNITED defender Rio Ferdinand believes shock summer signing Michael Owen has the killer instinct needed to deliver more silverware to Old Trafford.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson surprised most observers when he plucked a jaded Owen from the disarray of relegated Newcastle and signed him the striker a free transfer.
Rejuvenated Owen has repaid that faith with two goals in his first two United appearances, both of them coming on the Premier League champions’ current pre-season tour of the Far East.
And Ferdinand, who knows Owen well from England duty, expects the 29-year-old to continue in that vein when the campaign gets underway next month.
“He is one of those players you might not see for 90 minutes but in time added on, he will score a goal. Those are the type of players you need to win things,” said Ferdinand. “It is great to have him in our squad because he is such a good player and a fantastic lad to have around. Fingers crossed he can have an injury free season and score some goals for us.
“So far this pre-season he has played two games and scored two goals. That speaks for itself. When he is on his game, there are not many better finishers in world football.”
Eyebrows were raised on Owen’s arrival at United, following an injury-ravaged spell at St James’ Park that saw his stock fall almost as far as his club’s. But Ferdinand says he and his team-mates are rooting for the former Liverpool player to prove his critics wrong.
“The lads get a great buzz out of seeing someone like Michael Owen score goals,” Ferdinand added.
“When he signed for the club there were a lot of doubters out there. People were saying all kinds of things. But the players go in there with an open mind and just hope to see the player we know Michael can be.”