Owen Hargreaves has revealed he is desperate to place his injury woes behind him and start afresh competing for a first-team spot.

Hargreaves has been in and out of the treatment room for more than a year and has been under the knife a few times to fix his knee tendinitis problems.

But the midfield enforcer is closing in on a return and is rev his rehab up a gear by starting ball work at Man United's training facility.

And the former Bayern Munich ace is keen to return to manager Sir Alex Ferguson's plans.

"I can't wait to get back involved in it all," he told the club's official website.

"I can't wait to play again for United, to be able to pull on the shirt and have an effect on games.

"Running out at Old Trafford will be a big thing for me. It will be amazing."