Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says Michael Owen has plenty to offer his young players.

Ferguson regards Owen as an ideal influence on young forwards Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez.

"Michael hasn't got that blinding pace he had as a younger person. But his positional play is ­brilliant. His awareness in the box, making the runs at the right time and getting across the defender - he just has that gift. Hernandez can learn off him and so can Welbeck," said Ferguson.

"Chicharito's movement in the box is similar to Michael's in that respect but maybe more so when Michael was younger."