Owen gets off to a flyer at United

admin 23rd July, 2009

Two games, two goals. Vintage Michael Owen statistics and already everyone is already asking ‘is he back to his best yet?’ The truth is we won’t know until the season starts but one thing is for sure – it looks pretty good so far.

To be honest it surprised me a bit when Manchester United came in for Owen but when you think about it the move isn’t all that surprising. I don’t know if Sir Alex Ferguson will see him as a regular starter but as a pair of fresh legs coming off the bench he will get plenty of goals at his new home. He could be the new Teddy Sheringham or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer figure at Old Trafford, either way I’m sure he’ll weigh in with his fair share of goals.

Anyway, that’s for the future, but right now we know Owen has his shooting boots back on after a hard time at Newcastle so probably best to explain how he got the said goals. The first came against a Malaysian XI, featuring players I’ve never heard of in all honesty. Despite the low profile of their opponents United were level at 2-2 after throwing away a 2-0 lead when Owen, who came on as a sub, popped up and scored the winner.

The Malaysian goalkeeper Mohammed Farizal Marlias had done well to parry Darron Gibson’s through-ball, but Owen was on hand to calmly slot home from the edge of the box. It wasn’t the most stylish of goals, but for a striker like Owen that doesn’t matter – as long as it ends up in the back of the net.

His next goal for United came in his next game, against the same side, where he was on hand to tap in an excellent cross from Serbian youngster Zoran Tosic. That made it two goals in two games (technically less, he was a sub in the first game) and hopefully Owen will hit the Premier League hard next season.

Owen is a world class striker and I’m betting he continues to score goals for United all season as long as he stays fit. I never really felt Newcastle played him in the right way to be honest and there was far too much expectation on him, but at United the pressure will be off in that respect. As favourites to win the title with the betting odds there will of course be pressure on Owen but it is a very different kind of pressure and one shared by the entire side.

As for the man himself, he is understandably feeling confident after finding the goal again.

He told sky sports: “I feel like I did eight years ago.

“There are so many players on my wavelength - world-class players. I just know this move is going to be fantastic for me.”