Owen can beat Sir Bobby and provide the missing link

Ryan Giggs broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record for United in the 2008 Champions League final in 2008, and he believes Sir bobby may well lose another of his records in the near future.

Sir Bobby scored an impressive 49 goals over the course of his England career, but Giggs thinks this could easily be surpassed by free-scoring Michael Owen.

The striker has got off to a fantastic start at United, scoring four goals in as many games on the tour of Asia. And Giggs says he can carry this form into the new season and earn himself a recall to Fabio Capello’s England squad.

“I’m sure if he’s playing and scoring for United, then the rest will come,” Giggs told The Mirror. “Sir Bobby’s England record has proved difficult for anyone to overhaul.

“It’s stood for a long time now. But looking at Michael’s ratio of goals and games for England, you’d have to say if he plays another 15 internationals he’ll probably overtake it.”

No doubts

Many were skeptical when we signed Owen. Questions were raised over his fitness and whether he was now ‘past it’. There’s no doubt some poor career moves and a couple of long term injuries have blighted the last few years, but Giggs says there was never any doubt about Owen’s ability amongst the rest of the squad.

“Michael is just proving what we all know,” said Giggs. “That he’s a great goal-scorer. He scores headers, tap-ins and all his goals out in the Far East came from inside the box.

Owen can become England's top scorer says Giggs

“That’s where he does his work, that’s where he comes alive. I don’t think there was any scepticism among the players about his arrival.”

The missing link

Owen’s arrival could mean a change of tactics for us this season. Over the last three years we haven’t had a clinical centre forward who will pounce on half chances and put the ball in the net regularly. Our tactics have been built around feeding Ronaldo instead of working as a team. With Owen on the pitch we have an out and out goalscorer who will play off the shoulder of defenders and be in the right positions when the ball comes into the box. According to Giggs, that’s what we’ve been missing.

“The manager has already said Michael provides something we haven’t got. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov can do everything outside the box as well as score.

“And Federico Macheda is probably the most like Michael, in the sense he’s an out-and-out scorer – but he’s still young.

“Michael’s a predator in the box and that’s something we’ve not really had since Ruud van Nistelrooy left.

“The thing about Michael over the years is that if he misses a chance it doesn’t bother him. He knows he’s going to get another one. Ruud had that same mentality. Michael said himself that it was a surprise when United came in for him after the last couple of seasons at Newcastle.

“But coming to United has given him a new lease of life, especially as we make a lot of chances. He’ll certainly be confident of putting them away.”

I analyzed our striking options yesterday and speculated on how important Owen could be to us this season. If he stays fit and healthy all season, he’ll easily achieve the 15 goal target set for him by Sir Alex.