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Former England regular, and any physio’s nightmare, Owen Hargreaves will be used as a ‘guinea pig’ for Man City’s latest website gimmick. Viewers on the Etihad Stadium club’s official website will be able to access live footage from the bench during home Premier League matches.

A miniature camera will be pinned into a player’s jersey and will beam pictures from the perspective of a player on the substitutes bench and the pilot project will initially use Hargreaves, who signed for Man City in the summer after failing to secure a new Man United contract after a sustained period out of action with persistent injuries.

Visitors to Man City’s official website will be able to get a fresh perspective on a live match and the footage will include views from the bench as well as the touchline when the ‘sub cam’ will also pick up footage when players warm-up. The camera will however be removed when/if a player is brought on as UEFA rules prevent the use of such equipment on the field of play.

The camera used weighs just 5g and will not encumber players as they warm-up or as they sit in the dugout and the equipment used to run the pilot is considered to be the cutting edge most of it’s type in micro-technology circles.

The footage will be accessible live during the game as well as an edited version released on the club’s YouTube page the Monday morning after weekend fixtures.

To find out more visit Man City’s official website by CLICKING HERE.

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit back at Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves’ claims that he was treated like a guinea pig at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old left United in the summer after four injury-plagued years and moved to rivals City.

The England international says the Red Devils gave him several injections which he believes actually hindered his recovery.

The United boss responded by backing his “brilliant” medical team and, although he did not know the specifics of Hargreaves’ treatment, he has complete faith in the club’s doctors.

“We’re trying to analyse all the stuff he has said and there will be a statement later to address that,” Ferguson said.

“As far as I am concerned my medical staff is one of the main reasons why we have been so successful over the last few years.

“Do you think we would be successful if they were not 100% brilliant?

“Our doctor and his five physios are fantastic – that is my opinion and that is more important than what anyone else has to say about it.”

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Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves felt like a “guinea pig” at former club Manchester United after treatment on his knee problems.

The 30-year-old spent four seasons at Old Trafford, but persistent tendinitis resulted in the player undergoing double knee surgery during the 2008/09 season.

Following the operations, the England international played only six minutes of first-team football before being released by the Red Devils last summer.

He is now enjoying a new lease of life at the Etihad Stadium and scored on his debut against Birmingham City in the Carling Cup in midweek.

But Hargreaves claims the medical treatment he received at United did more harm than good.

“I received some injections but my tendon was never the same,” he said.

“After the injections, I tried to get back on my feet and they said my tendon was good, but it felt like I was made out of glass. That obviously had a huge impact.

“With my tendon injury, I’ve had to be a guinea pig for a lot of these treatments. It’s difficult.

“All the people there [at United] are lovely and everybody tries their best, but at times you come to a certain point where you need to make a decision.

“They said it would help. Basically, I was left to pick up the pieces, which was incredibly frustrating.

“I wanted to play. Everyone wanted me to play, so it’s not really an option to say, ‘sit it out and rest for six months’.

“With hindsight it’s a lot easier, but I wish I had not had the injections.”

Hargreaves now hopes his injury hell is behind him, but he knows he will have to manage himself in order to avoid more knee problems in the future.

“I had big surgery, so we’re just going to have to be smart,” he added.

“My physical function is very good, it’s tip-top, but sadly, I’m not 18 any more, so I need more recovery and more time in the gym to prepare for each training session.

“It’s just about getting some repetition in my training and trying to find some balance, staying sharp and fit and looking after some of the issues I’ve had.

“United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with Barcelona and Real Madrid. They have a lot of wonderful people there.

“I’m sad for myself that I wasn’t able to play a bigger part at Old Trafford – I really envisaged it going differently.

“It didn’t really materialise the way I anticipated, but this is a new chapter in my life.”

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Manchester City midfielder Owen Hargreaves wants an England recall after he has made his debut for his new side.

The 30-year-old has been plagued with injuries over the last three years, making just 18 Premier League starts for Manchester United during four seasons.

He was released from his Old Trafford contract in the summer and will make his first start for his former rivals in tonight’s Carling Cup tie against Birmingham City.

But the former Bayern Munich player has set his sights on once again representing the Three Lions and possibly appearing at Euro 2012.

“Yes, I’ve written down a few targets,” he told the Independent. “I’ll keep those to myself but I just want to get back and play football.

“That’s what I’ve done for a long time but it’s been taken away from me. I’ve missed it.

“All the times I’ve played for a team I think I’ve helped them to get better and I hope that will be true of my time here.

“I’m a competitive person. I like to set my targets high. I’ve never not succeeded in achieving something that I’ve set myself out to achieve – so yes.

“I’ve just got to take it step by step. I’ve just got to get back in training, consistently playing. It’s a natural progression.

“If I do a great job here, then I will be in the England team probably again. So we’ll take it step by step first.”

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Sir Alex Ferguson is not one for resting on his laurels, and whilst that is of course a massive cliche is it also incredibly accurate. The Old Trafford boss had to deal with the loss of household names who had notched up over 1000 Premier League appearances among them and set about bringing in replacements for positions he felt he had to improve in the face of what may well be domestic solid but needed a re-think when related to European success.

Whilst clearly the club has some long term financial issues to deal with, soaring interest payments and overall debt levels that are frankly mind boggling are not so easily brushed under the carpet with yearly levels of high turnover, that said Ferguson had money to spend and he spent it wisely and perhaps more importantly, early.

The arrivals of David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young came before pre-season got into full swing and that has helped to mould the nucleus of a first 11/15 that the Man United boss will look to draw upon across all the major competitions.

The Spanish starlet custodian has been shaky between the sticks but Ferguson has been quick to defend the former Atletico Madrid man and whilst he has perhaps flapped at one or two efforts he has looked solid when it comes to tricky efforts on goal, thus proving that the youngster has what it takes to fill the massive gloves, metaphorically and literally, left by Edwin van der Sar.

Phil Jones is perhaps seen as a long term replacement for Rio Ferdinand, who’s injury problems have become both more pronounced and worryingly regular. Indeed the loss of Nemanja Vidic in the first week of the season left the club looking to Chris Smalling to play out on the right of the defence, a position the England man has excelled in.

The Blackburn Rovers defender has shown maturity beyond his years and could be a stalwart for years to come, whilst a player like Jonny Evans can on occasion, even at age 24, lack conviction and concentration, one can see that Jones has the makings or a far more accomplished centre back than his Northern Irish team-mate.

It is Ashley Young, of the three new additions, that has settled in the best. Ferguson has been linked with a move for the former Aston Villa man and either by luck or design has purchased the winger at his very peak. The 26 year old had a good season in the Midlands last term but now looks ever more the finished article, rushing up the wing with renewed purpose.

Whilst at Villa he at times gave the air of a player who felt he was above his team-mates and frequently thus opted to go it alone and in his early years flitting in and out of games, now no longer a big fish in a small pond the England international looks to have grown. Now opting for quick insightful passing over trying to over elaborate, the results are clear for all to see, even after only a few games in a United shirt he already looks the part and when Luis Antonio Valencia returns it will be Nani, and not Young, who will fight the Ecuadorian for a first team spot.

It was widely reported that as well as these new additions, Ferguson was also looking into bringing in another attack minded midfielder with Inter Milan man Wesley Sneijder high up on the wish-list. As it turned out no move was forthcoming and that was more likely down in part to the Man United manager looking to trust to those at the club to fill such a role and has watched as youngster Tom Cleverley has taken the job on with aplomb.

On the outgoing front, aside from the three giants who called it quits, Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, those who departed either did so because both club and player realised the time was right to move on to the next challenge or because it became abundantly clear they were not good enough to warrant a place at the club.

John O’Shea and Wes Brown both served a very useful purpose and had fluctuating levels of importance during their respective periods at the club but a move to Sunderland was probably one all parties knew was right. The pair, both of whom garnered an undeserved smattering of ridicule from outside Manchester, amassed over 750 appearances for the club and won a total of ten Premier League titles and three Champions League triumphs as well as numerous other accolades and should therefore deserve more recognition than either get.

Gabriel Obertan, who left for Newcastle United, wholly failed to impress. Whilst the Frenchman did look promising when on reserve duty when push came to shove he really didn’t cut it in the first team and was seemingly always living on borrowed time, failing to make an impact against the then non-league Crawley Town was perhaps the final nail in his Man United career coffin.

Here is a closer look at those who arrived and who left Old Trafford this summer and how they have faired or why they were offloaded.

David De Gea: £17.6m from Atletico Madrid

Shaky start but an undoubted talent and a player who is expected to grow into the a player who can fill the void left by the loss of Edwin van der Sar.

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The England midfielder joins as a free agent having left Manchester United at the end of last season. He has put pen to paper on a one-year contract and will train on Thursday.

Though injury has taken its toll on the 30-year-old’s career, Hargreaves has 42 international caps to his name, has won five league titles at home and abroad and was awarded the England Player of the Year award in 2006, beating off competition from Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and City’s own Gareth Barry.

Born and raised in Canada, the Blues new signing moved to Germany at the age of 16 after Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich spotted the midfielder’s potential. There he became just the second English player to win a Champions League medal with a foreign club – the first being former Blue Steve McManaman at Real Madrid.

Bayern won the Bundesliga title on four occasions during Hargreaves’ time at the club and the City new boy also added three German Cup medals to his own personal collection, before starring for England in the country’s 2006 World Cup campaign.

SOURCE: Official Man City website

Whilst clearly this something of a surprise signing it, it is also something of a bargain. Owen Hargreaves has of course struggled with injuries and missed most of the last three seasons, but now the former England international is fighting fit, as evidenced by his hilarious YouTube videos, and we are talking about a double Champions League winner who on his day was considered one of the best in his position.

Hargreaves is hoping to resurrect his career and will be keen to impress Roberto Mancini when called upon. Given that Man City are fighting on multiple fronts the extra strength in depth may well help the club’s progression from Champions League qualifying side to genuine contenders for serious silverware.

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Manchester City have announced Roque Santa Cruz and Vladimir Weiss have left the club on loan moves to Spain, continuing the exodus from the Etihad Stadium.

But there could be a surprise arrival before the transfer deadline after former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves underwent a medical with the Blues.

Santa Cruz, 30, has found his first-team opportunities severely restricted under Roberto Mancini due to injuries and being overlooked when fit.

The Paraguay international has not been in City’s first team since November and spent the last six months of the season at Blackburn on-loan.

Real Betis have offered him an opportunity to kick-start has career after they signed him on a season-long deal.

Weiss will also be on his way to Spain after Espanyol confirmed he will be joining them for the rest of the campaign.

The Slovakia international spent last season on loan at Rangers but he too has been unable to convince Mancini he can force his way into his plans.

The departures continue the exodus of the club after Emmanuel Adebayor moved on-loan to Tottenham last week.

Craig Bellamy is also expected to leave with Spurs, Liverpool and Cardiff City interested.

The arrival of Hargreaves, 30, at the City training ground today was a surprise to many.

The England international was released by United earlier this summer due to an injury ravaged four years at the club.

West Brom and Tottenham are keen on signing him but will only offer pay-as-you-play deals whilst City can offer a higher basic wage.

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