Owen Hargreaves is adamant that he can return to his best after coming back from an 18-month injury lay-off.

Hargreaves made a 45-minute appearance for Manchester United in a reserves fixture on Thursday evening, the precursor to what could be an uphill battle to return to the first team for the Red Devils and England. The versatile midfielder is ultimately aiming to come back as the player that persuaded Sir Alex Ferguson to part with £18million in 2007, a year after he starred in the 2006 World Cup.

"I had better get there," said the former Bayern Munich star. "I am not coming back to just be one of the guys and to fill a spot. I have never been that way and, if that was the case, then I would rather walk away. I am coming back to have an impact and hopefully I can do it this season."

Hargreaves signed from Bayern Munich with his tendinitis ailment but competed in half of Man United's matches during his first season at Old Trafford, a campaign that included that memorable Champions League final win over Chelsea in the Luzhniki Stadium.

Little did the England international know that he was aggravating his injury.

"Not everybody's right and people make mistakes. That's part of life," he said.

"Ideally they don't involve you. When they do, you aren't too happy about it.

"In the end I missed two full seasons for Man United. I came here with high expectations for myself, and from the club's side of it, and the fans.

"To not to be able to play from 27 to 29 is incredibly disappointing."