New Manchester City signing Owen Hargreaves could be in line for a blockbuster Premier League debut against former club Manchester United.
The 30-year-old midfielder, who signed on a free transfer from the Old Trafford outfit on transfer deadline day, has not played a Premier League match since November 6 last year.
But after a long spell of rehabilitation, Hargreaves started and scored on his club debut for City, which came in a 2-0 Carling Cup win against Birmingham City on Wednesday.
The Canadian-born midfielder will not be rushed into action after playing just three matches in the last three years, with City boss Roberto Mancini suggesting that the Manchester derby on October 23 might just be his first league appearance for his new club.
“We have to be calm and think about his body,” Mancini said, before re-iterating his cautious approach.
“If everything is okay in the next two or three weeks, maybe he can play against Manchester United.”
“There are no problems (after his game), apart from a bit of tiredness. He has been out for two years, which is a long period. He has worked hard for the last six months in Canada. I hope it has solved all his problems.”
Mancini admitted that he has been surprised by Hargreaves’ readiness to play, and insisted that his movement and performance on Wednesday indicated he played well, and not his goal.
“When we took him we thought we could recover him in two months, if he is okay. Our plans were from December or January,” he said.
“But on Wednesday, he played well. Not because he scored. It was because he moved well.”
“Usually when a player comes back after one or two years, he has a problem with his ankle or his muscle. But after the game, there was nothing. Yesterday was okay.”
“But it will be tougher against better opposition.”
