Owen Hargreaves Fails to Turn Up for Audi Cup

Owen Hargreaves' hopes of returning to first-team action with Manchester United in September suffered a blow when he failed to join up with Sir Alex Ferguson's squad in Munich for the Audi Cup. On their tour of the far east, the United manager said he could be fit enough to train with the squad and be playing in two months' time. However, Hargreaves, left, who last played in September 2008, has stayed in America, where he underwent two knee operations. The right knee was operated on in November and the left in January. "We hoped he would be joining us here in Munich but we cannot rush him," said Ferguson, who added that Antonio Valencia would be making his United debut against Boca Juniors this evening. "He has had a major operation on both knees and that is a serious business. "He will not be rushed back."