Michael Owen feels he could have influenced Manchester United's title tilt last season.
A hamstring injury in February's Carling Cup final ruled him out until the summer, meaning Sir Alex was without his services as the Reds battled for trophies come April and May.
"Last year was disappointing," Owen admitted to manutd.com. "I was fit for every game we played, bar one, for the first 43 games of the season. Then I missed all the exciting games at the end.
"Hopefully this year it’s the other way around: I’ve had one or two fitness problems in the first half of the season so maybe I’ll get a clean run until the end of May. I’d prefer it that way because this is the time of the season when the prizes are being handed out. This is when you get a real buzz out of playing or coming off the bench.
"I’ve got to be ready to produce the goods if called upon. There are plenty of examples down the years, especially at this club, where major honours have been won by players who have come off the bench. I have to have the belief that at some point over the next few weeks I’ll be called on to score an important goal. And when I am called on I have to be ready."
Click here for the No1 coverage of all the gossip and transfer news around Manchester United.
