Manchester United's Michael Owen Shrugs Off 'Crock' Tag

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has questioned the 'injury-prone' label he's carried for much of his career, whilst once again stating that it is wrong to brand a forward as a poor performer if he does not score goals.

The Red Devils' hitman is of the opinion that strikers can sometimes have off days and still hit the back of the net, while they can go a few games without scoring despite putting on stellar performances.

"I don't think it takes a goal for me to play well," Owen said, according to the Press Association.

"I was average [during the League Cup game] against Barnsley but scored. I played really well against Bolton [Wanderers] and didn't.

"It just didn't get reflected.

"But that is how my career has gone. It is strange, but I am not particularly bothered about it."

During his time with Newcastle United, Owen had become a by-word for injury, but the 29-year-old remains defiant that he is not a player who is prone to injury.

"I get a bee in my bonnet about injuries," he said.

"When you talk about my career, I have two long-term injuries, that were linked probably.

"But they were not 'injury-prone' injuries. It is the little niggly ones that you can probably manage and eradicate from your game."

Owen had another hiccup with regards to injury in the club's victory over Wolfsburg in the Champions League. The striker had to be taken off within 20 minutes, but he maintained that it was only a preventive measure.

"The older you get, the more you learn about your body," he said.

"I came off before it was too late. If I had stayed on and done another sprint, maybe I would have done my groin and been out for a month.

"Fortunately I could feel what was happening, so I put my hand up and said I had to come off. I was back training four days later."

Adithya Ananth, Goal.com UK