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United boosted by Owen return

OWEN HARGREAVES will start for Manchester United tomorrow.

The England midfielder has been troubled with a knee injury since signing from Bayern Munich for £17million this summer.

But an injection to cure swelling caused by tendinitis appears to have worked.

And boss Alex Ferguson has declared Hargreaves, 26, fit for the clash against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford.

He said: “Owen is fit to start tomorrow. It’s been frustrating for him, missing games is not what he came here for.

“He’s come here for a big fee and he must be a bit disappointed with the way things have gone.

“But it is a long season and he is back now which is terrific news for us because it gives us a better chance of doing well.”

Fergie is particularly pleased with Hargreaves' return with Paul Scholes also sidelined with a mysterious knee problem.

He added: “The first scan did not show the problem clearly so we are sending him to see a specialist on Monday to try and find out what the damage is and how we deal with it.

“Hopefully it is not going to be a long one.”

Gary Neville and Michael Carrick could both be fit for the crunch showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in eight days' time.

Neville has not played at all this season with calf and thigh problems, while Carrick is currently nursing a dislocated elbow.

Fergie said: “Neville has been doing a lot of training. He just needs a game which we are trying to arrange for him. He should be fit in seven days.

“Michael Carrick goes for a scan on Monday. If he gets the all-clear to start training, he will be available for Arsenal.”