The England international striker (although he as not played for his country for more than a couple of years) has stated his intention to stay at Manchester United as long as possible, even if it means the amount of minutes he plays on the pitch is limited by the fact that the likes of Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov, Javier Hernandez and at times even the young Federico Macheda are ahead of him in the competition for a place in the starting line up. In fact, for the most part, Micheal Owen’s appearances since he arrived at Manchester United some 15 months ago have been restricted to the Carling Cup, the FA Cup and the trivial European Champions League fixture (usually when qualification is already assured). Occasionally the diminutive striker appears in the English Premiership but his appearances are typically short, coming as they do from the bench, where he usually begins the match as a substitute.
Michael Owen has scored some important goals at Manchester United, including a goal in the Carling Cup final last season, which Manchester United eventually triumphed in, and a vital last gasp winner against Manchester City in the Manchester derby last season, which Manchester United triumphed 4-3 in. In European football Michael Owen has also often proved to be a threat, scoring a hat trick against Wolfsburg, then German champions, in Germany in a comfortable victory during last seasons Champions League group stages. The official quote concerning Michael Owen’s desire to stay at Manchester United was “it’s a question for the manager really, but if you ask my opinion I would love to stay. I never thought I would start every game when I joined the club and I have never complained about anything.”
In a nutshell the striker is content at being a handy alternative and prefers featuring occasionally at Manchester United, a side competing for several trophies, as opposed to starting weekly at an ultimately inferior side who would be bound to languish in the lower regions of the table. Michael Owen has scored 4 goals in 23 matches in the Premiership, since joining Manchester United, although the majority of these appearances have been as a substitute. In total, however, he has managed 12 goals in 38 appearances, a far more impressive record, especially considering plenty of those appearances have been as a substitute. It is unknown whether Manchester United, or Sir Alex Ferguson in particular, will ask the striker to sign a contract extension and stay for a while longer at the club which plays at The Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford.