United’s engine room needs some energy, is a forgotten England midfielder the man for the job?

Hargreaves is sorely missed in Manchester Utd's engine room

It’s always after a defeat in football that the critical post mortem of a team begins, with every reason for a loss being dissected and discussed. That’s probably what is happening right now in the minds of Manchester United fans after their disappointing performance in their 2-0 defeat against arch-rivals Liverpool.

Coming into the match, the contrasting fortunes in both teams was striking. United had been on a successful run of games without defeat, culminating in the midweek Champions League victory over CSKA Moscow in Russia. Not vintage Manchester United, but doing enough to get the job done. Meanwhile Liverpool had suffered a miserable week, cursing their anger towards a red beach ball that cost them three points against Sunderland, and then conceding a last minute goal against Lyon at Anfield as first signs of discontent were muttered around Anfield. Manager Rafael Benitez has been on the receiving end of rumours and questions about his future, but has remained calm in the face of it all.

But, from a Liverpool perspective, there’s no better way to alleviate the pressure by getting the result of beating champions United at Anfield, without skipper Steven Gerrard although striker Fernando Torres returned and had an impact in the final outcome of the game.

Torres opened the deadlock in the 65th minute after being put through by Yossi Benayoun and shrugging off Rio Ferdinand to slam the ball past a helpless Edwin Van Der Sar in the United net. After the Spaniard was substituted, his replacement, Daniel N’gog got on the scoresheet in the final seconds to put the result to bed.

United were left scratching their heads as to how they could have performed disappointingly in a game in which they were coming into, in the right frame of mind after victory in midweek. But their defeat brought a question of the missing ingredient lacking in the United engine room, the grafter who runs and harasses the opposition midfield and is able to keep control of possession whilst looking for a positive ball forward. In the past year, that ingredient has been Scotland captain Darren Fletcher, much maligned in gone years but has now become a firm fans favourite after impressing when called upon.

But after shelling out £18m for him, United are eagerly keen to welcome back England midfielder Owen Hargreaves into their squad after nearing recovery from worrying knee problems. Rumours surfaced that Hargreaves’ career may come to a premature end but the Canadian born defensive midfielder is three weeks away from a possible first team comeback.

Fletcher has to be praised for becoming a mainstay in United’s side but it’s the all around experience of Hargreaves is what fans would most love and why Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Bayern Munich in 2006. Hargreaves, winner of many medals in Germany and of a European Cup with Bayern (he added another European Cup medal after helping United to a penalty shootout win against Chelsea in 2008), his experience in big game situations has been sorely missed.

He impressed in his first season at Old Trafford, injury permitting and his big game showings against Arsenal in the league, and the Champions League final against Chelsea showed what he brought in the midfield area.

The long standing injury problem had to be resolved and after spending a year out on the sidelines, Hargreaves’ return will add much needed energy into the engine room which despite Fletcher’s performances, still needs that extra bit so United can avoid defeat in the big four games.

Not only domestically do United need Hargreaves’ hard graft, but also in Europe where last season ended on a disappointing note after suffering a 2-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final. Thus ending their hopes of being the first team to successfully defend the trophy since it’s re-branding. Barcelona midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta showed their immense technical quality, leaving skipper Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Anderson trailing in their wake as they helped secure the Catalan giants’ third European Cup.

United will have to survive without Hargreaves for another three weeks at least as Ferguson keeps him wrapped in cotton wool to avoid another setback. But, once fully fit and firing, Hargreaves could become a new midfield signing who could provide Fabio Capello with a dilemma heading into next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

The curtain raiser to the new season edges near…

Ancelotti and Ferguson set to meet again, this time on English soil

Time flies quickly in the footballing world, it wasn’t too long ago when Manchester United’s players were standing around in the Stadio Olympico feeling deflated, minutes after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League final. Months later, with arrivals and departures in the players lounge, the new season draws near and the expectations rise again.

In the summer of big spending, United have been relatively low key in their purchases. Spending the money received from Cristiano Ronaldo’s world record transfer to Real Madrid, they bought Wigan’s Luis Antonio Valencia for £17m, another £3m on unknown Frenchman Gabriel Obertan and a shock free signing of ex-Liverpool forward Michael Owen. A far cry from the big names United, in the aftermath of Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez’s exit from Old Trafford, were linked with Franck Ribery, David Silva, Karim Benzema and other international stars.

But what Manchester United, unlike Real Madrid, are not a team of ‘Galacticos’. The strength and success at United is down to good squad conditioning, buying experienced players such as Owen alongside promising individuals like Valencia and Obertan.

It would have been too easy to spend £50-60m on Ribery, just to satisfy those fans wanting a ‘big name’ to replace Ronaldo but history shows that the unknown can prove to be a better player than the huge star. When David Beckham left in 2003 to join Madrid, it was a certain Portuguese at the age of 17, who wore the number seven shirt and showed his wizardary on the wing.

That’s why the Ecuadorian Valencia could be a perfect signing and a different type of player to Ronaldo, who used his skills, energy and pace to burst his way into the goal socring charts over the past three years. Valencia will not offer the number of goals Ronaldo could, but has shown in the pre-season games that he will be more the provider and that can only bode well for the United strike force.

Frenchman Obertan was a surprise signing from French champions Bordeaux, he is another unknown but potential star. Playing mainly on the left wing, he is seen as another replacement for Ryan Giggs but he is currently on the treatment table recovering from an injury.

Out of all the signings, Owen has shown excellent pre-season form and hinting that his signing by Sir Alex Ferguson could prove to be a bargain signing. He’s looked deadly in the box and scored a beauty of a goal on the tour in the Far East after an exquisite touch by Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov, who also should reap the benefits of the exits of Ronaldo and Tevez.

United boss Ferguson has injury issues ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Chelsea, with goalkeeper and defensive problems. Edwin Van Der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville and Wes Brown are unavailable with Ben Foster and Tomasz Kusczak looking to replace the Dutchman in goal for the eight weeks he will be out for.

All eyes are on the Community Shield, as United and Chelsea will nudge up the pre-season energy levels. Chelsea, under the management of Carlo Ancelotti will be looking for an early trophy to boost their own confidence under a new manager. I’m not expecting any huge fireworks, but an energetic kick about in the Wembley sun.

Khan seals his place as The King after winning the WBA World light-welterweight crown

Khan puts in his best performance to date to win his first World title

It was dubbed “The Man Who Would Be King” and Amir Khan showed why he deserved that title after putting in his finest performance to date to beat Ukraining Andreas Kotelnik and grab the WBA World light-weltweight crown in the MEN Arena in Manchester.

His rehabilitation under renowned American trainer Freddie Roach came full circle as he produced a dominant display against Kotelnik and brush any memories of his devastating 52 second knockout by Breidis Prescott last September, well and truly under the carpet.

At the start of his professional career, Khan became known for knocking out his mediocre opponents quickly and thus every fight brought the question, which round will he knock him out? It was the same question that shadowed his loss to Prescott and his urgency to send him sprawling to the canvas backfired badly.

This time, Khan put in a performance of maturity, composure and concentration and will have silenced some his critics, myself included. Despite beating former world champion Marco Antonio Barrera due to a nasty the cut Mexican got, I was still unsure whether Khan had really improved, although the signs were there. Tonight, he went through only his second twelve round battle and came through with flying colours and the world title he so badly wanted.

Roach, who’s masterminded the fortunes of the pound for pound king Manny Pacquaio, has only accelerated his reputation as the finest boxing trainer on the planet at the moment. Khan’s improvement in his footwork, more thought out combinations in his punching and refusing to go down, is all down to Roach’s wizardary as a trainer.

For Khan, only good thing await the Olympic silver medalist. I for one, hope he will resist the lure of fighting good mate Ricky Hatton and go on to a huge fight in the States. The man from Bolton, is now well and truly, The King.