Lescott supports Hargreaves bid

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has backed the club’s pursuit of England midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

Hargreaves, 30, barely played for former club Manchester United since 2008, with persistent knee and hamstring problems meaning he was released by the Old Trafford outfit when his contract expired at the end of last season.

But his career might still lie in Manchester, with City keen to take on the midfielder after the off-season departure of Patrick Vieira and the fact that Yaya Toure will be away at the African Nations Cup right throughout January.

City are hopeful of signing Hargreaves to provide back-up to Nigel de Jong in the defensive midfield position, and Lescott feels it would be a good acquisition to what is an already talent-packed squad.

“I’ve worked with Owen with England and he is a great professional,” Lescott told reporters at an England press conference on Tuesday, ahead of their match in Bulgaria on Friday.

“He’s experienced in the Champions League and internationally so it can only be good for the squad.”

“He’s still a good player, he obviously hasn’t played as much as he would have liked over the last couple of seasons… but if the medical team get him fit I’m sure it won’t be long until he’s back to his best.”

Hargreaves was photographed leaving the Bridgewater Hospital in Manchester on Tuesday, where he was reported to have undergone a medical.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder has been eager to win a new deal with an English club, posting a series of videos on YouTube throughout the summer in a bid to prove his fitness.