Hargreaves: I can still make the World Cup with England

Owen Hargreaves made his long-awaited comeback last night and claimed he has not given up hope of making the World Cup this summer.

Hargreaves, who had been out of action for 18 months following surgery to cure tendinitis in both knees, made his return for Manchester United reserves against Burnley.

Owen Hargreaves makes United comeback - picture special  

And after coming through 45 minutes unscathed, Hargreaves said he had "unfinished business" with United and England - and claimed he can still go to South Africa as part of Fabio Capello's squad.

"The World Cup? Well it's there," said Hargreaves. "How it will materialise I don't know. I would love to have the opportunity to play for England again but I'll have to see how I progress.

"If I'm there, I'm there, I would love to help. I'm fit, I’ve been training incredibly hard and done everything I possibly could.

"I'm disappointed to have missed so many games. It's almost two full seasons, so for me it's very much a case of unfinished buisness.

"I'm 29, but hopefully I have a lot of time left in football and those dreams I have can become a reality."

Hargreaves played with his customary endeavour and industry in a familiar deep-lying midfield role in a 2-0 win for United's reserves at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.

And as he reflected on his prolonged absence from the game, the man voted England's Player of the 2006 World Cup admitted he could not have imagined he would be out so long.

"It's been incredible to even imagine that I could have been out for 18 months," said Hargreaves.

"I could never have imagined it. This was the first step in what has been an incredibly long ordeal and I am very happy to be back.

"It was nice to play in a match with a referee at least and poper opponents and geting back on a proper pitch.

"Everything has been kind of on my own so its been nice to having people around again.

"Psychologically I don't think it's been a problem. The problem has been pain-management. I feel good in myself and what I do.

"I'm definitely not short on confidence, otherwise I would never have got myself to this point.

"It's all about managing the injury, trying not to do too much and being sensible.

"I could never have imagined it would be this serious but yopu just have to deal with the cards you're dealt.

"I've been trying to rush back. I thought I'd be fit for the start of the season but now we're in Match and I've not played a first-team game."

United have eight Premier League games left this season and Hargreaves, who was left out of their Champions League squad and so is ineligible for Europe, is desperate to play a part.

"Ideally I would like to play for the first-team as soon as possible," said Fergie. That's been my target from day one and I've geared my rehab around that.

"Obviously it didn't materialise thay way and you have to re-evaluate, which is what I've had to do."