Originally Posted by BBC Sport

Hargreaves faces career concerns


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Owen Hargreaves may be forced to quit top-level football in the next two years if his chronic knee problem persists, BBC Sport understands.

The Manchester United and England midfielder has had two operations to cure a tendinitis problem in both knees but the pain has yet to subside.

It is believed the 28-year-old has not yet planned a return date but is still confident of making a full recovery.

He has had only 25 starts since a £17m move from Bayern Munich in July 2007.

Hargreaves, who was seen demonstrating his ball skills during United's warm-up for the Champions League final in Rome on 27 May, has not featured for Sir Alex Ferguson's side since their 1-1 draw with Chelsea on 21 September 2008.

He underwent surgery on his right knee last November and then on his left knee in January.

The procedures were carried out under the guidance of leading American knee surgeon Richard Steadman, who has previously operated on former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, current Magpies forward Michael Owen and ex-Red Devils striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is now at Real Madrid.

Ferguson has previously said that he was "certain" Hargreaves would be fit for the beginning of the 2009-2010 campaign but it is now believed there is little chance of that happening.