Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insists Owen Hargreaves has a big role to play as his team chases glory on two fronts.

Ferguson has dismissed reports claiming the former Bayern Munich midfielder had angered him because of poor timekeeping.

Instead he praised Hargreaves' performance when he stepped off the bench in the 2-0 victory against Roma in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg match at the Stadio Olimpico.

The England international could face Middlesbrough on Sunday and Ferguson said: "In many ways, he changed the pattern of the game for us the other night.

"He did a fantastic job when he came on and he will be involved again on Sunday."