Manchester United striker Michael Owen was delighted with his brace in last night's 3-0 Carling Cup win at Leeds United. The Red Devils claimed victory in Yorkshire and he is hoping his record of 11 goals from his last 12 starts could lead to a more prominent first-team role.

"I'm not content if I'm not playing," he told reporters after the Elland Road contest.

"I get criticised a lot with things like 'you don't play, you pick your money up' and all the rest of it but I'm not proud of that fact.

"I want to play all the time."

Owen hopes for a repeat of his first season at Old Trafford when he featured in 31 league and cup games but he is realistic about his chances due to the strength of United's squad.

"If the season was going to be like the first season I was here then I'd be delighted.

"That was fantastic and I felt involved. I was always either on the bench or playing.

"Obviously I want to be involved again but I appreciate that there's some top players in the team and in the squad and it's a challenge to get on the bench let alone into the first-team."