Michael Owen gives Capello a firm nudge

From one oldie yesterday (David Beckham) to another today. Step forward, Michael Owen.

Although hardly a critical match for Manchester United in the Champions League, it was still an important one against Wolfsburg last night, and United had to cater for the loss of a whole host of players through injury. United wanted to avoid defeat to ensure that they topped the group to avoid some of the hardest potential encounters in the first knock-out round.

Michael Owen duly delivered with a match-winning hat-trick.

One header, one tap-in and one sprint through to chip over the keeper would surely have given England manager Fabio Capello the firmest nudge yet that Owen is not finished and would be worth a place in the England World Cup squad.

Less than a week short of his 30th birthday, perhaps Owen showed that experience is invaluable.

Although Wayne Rooney is obviously top of the strikers' pile, Jermain Defoe has scored plenty of goals for Tottenham this season, and Capello is evidently a fan of Emile Heskey, it is hard to imagine that Owen is still behind the likes of Darren Bent, Peter Crouch, Carlton Cole and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Owen has proven he can do it at the top level. The doubt had to be over his fitness and sharpness. No doubts any more.

Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson might now find it hard to leave out Michael Owen.

Latest injury is a big blow to Michael Owen

It was a great shame to see Manchester United's Michael Owen leave the field after just 20 minutes of last night's Champions League clash with Wolfsburg.

The striker could be out of action for up to three weeks after injuring his groin in the early part of the game.

It will have done his chances of returning to the England squad no good at all, despite being watched by England manager Fabio Capello. The injury will sideline Owen for at least three weeks.

"His fitness levels are good so we shouldn't need to worry too much about it. We will treat it as a normal groin injury," said United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Owen has spent too much of the last few years on the injured list. Now 29, he must still hope he can return to fitness and form in time for next year's World Cup. He had a big boost a week and a half ago when he scored United's winner in the 4-3 victory over rivals City.

Sadly, time is running out.

Mark Hughes questions added time in Manchester derby

Last Tuesday I talked about putting a stopwatch on actual game time.

Never has been more apposite that in yesterday's Manchester derby.

A pulsating game was 3-2 to United in the last minute when a mistake by Rio Ferdinand invited Craig Bellamy to race half the length of the pitch to equalise with just six seconds remaining on the clock.

When the game restarted we were told (on Sky TV's coverage) that there would be four added minutes. Presumably those added minutes were decided and conveyed to the fourth official before the goal had been scored.

Once the goal had been scored almost a minute was wasted by City in their celebrations (45 seconds). A few moments later more time was taken up when Michael Carrick came on as substitute for United. It's officially 30 seconds for each substitution. Thus, there was at least 1 minute 15 seconds to add to the four minutes, taking us to 95 minutes 15 seconds.

Michael Owen scored United's winner after 95 minutes and 26 seconds.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes complained after the game about this added time and the game running to 97 minutes. Obviously referee Martin Atkinson added further time on after the winner for the time taken to celebrate that.

If you also take into account the fact that the free-kick that led to the goal took about a minute from the foul to the taking, then I'm sorry, but Hughes can have no argument. The game should probably have run beyond 97 minutes!

However, it proves me right.

Put a stopwatch on actual playing time. This change is needed quickly.