Michael Owen out for the rest of the season

The diminutive striker started only 11 games for the Red Devils this season – generally thought to be because of Rooney’s form and United playing with one up front – but manager Alex Ferguson regrets not making the most of Owen’s undoubted talent. "Michael has been such an important player for us and I know I have not used him as much as I should have," said Ferguson, according to a report in the Sporting Life.

In the immediate aftermath of the Carling Cup final, after Owen had scored his ninth goal of the season to draw United level, there were grounds for hope that the injury was not serious. But scans showed the tear to be far worse than first imagined, robbing United of one of their senior strikers and England one of their most successful forwards of all time.