Michael Owen has new contract and is buzzing for next season

Michael Owen has another 12 months with Man Utd after signing a one-year deal and says he is excited about next season already.

The 31-year old striker has completed his initial two-year stay at Old Trafford but will remain with the champions for at least another campaign which he is genuinely buzzing about.

"I am delighted to have agreed a one-year extension to my contract," said Owen.

"To play alongside so many great players, under an exceptional manager, and in front of so many passionate supporters is a real inspiration.

"I can't wait for next season to start."

Owen: I am better player for Man Utd experience

Michael Owen feels he's a better player for his bit-part role at Man Utd.

Owen is hoping to win a new deal at United.

"You can drop your level and play more regularly in a team that is not of as high a standard as Man Utd," observed Owen.

"But your level stays high when you are training with top players and you enjoy your football much more when you are playing in a good team.

"It depends which side of the coin you look at.

"I have certainly enjoyed my time here even though I haven't played as much this year and I have still felt part of it.

"I have played in 11 Premier League games and qualified for a medal and loved every minute of it."

Valencia needs one more Man Utd appearance for winners medal

Sir Alex Ferguson must give Antonio Valencia action in their remaining two games for the winger to be handed a league winner's medal.

The Telegraph says Valencia has made just nine appearances this season after missing six months following the horrific ankle injury he suffered in the Champions League group stage game with Rangers in October, meaning he is one short of the 10 required to be assured of a medal.

Michael Owen, despite starting only one game and admitting on his twitter feed that he "does not deserve one as much as half the team", has played enough to be awarded a medal, by virtue of his nine substitute appearances.

Wes Brown and Gabriel Obertan, both of whom have started more games than the former England international, will not record the requisite number of appearances but United do have the option to apply for both to be awarded medals, as well as Gary Neville, whose retirement came after just three Premier League appearances.

It is believed that the club are unlikely to ask for any of those three players to be given medals unless either Brown or Obertan, both on seven, feature against both Blackburn and Blackpool, though they may appeal — as is traditional — on behalf of Tomasz Kuzszcak, the substitute goalkeeper, who has played just four times but has been a virtual ever-present on United’s bench.

Everton favourites to land Man Utd striker Owen

Michael Owen is attracting rival Premier League interest.

The People says Everton boss David Moyes wants to sign Owen – and will take on Steve Bruce’s Sunderland to get him.

Owen is set to quit Manchester United this summer.

And signing for Everton, who chased him before he signed for United, would make sense for Owen who lives locally and has growing interests in horse racing, with stables in the area.

Michael Owen loves football again after joining Man Utd!..

Michael Owen says he's fallen back in love with the game as a Manchester United player.

The 30-year old striker has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, but says that his passion for the game is stronger than ever.

"At United I’m playing with some of the world’s best footballers, under one of the greatest ever managers," he told BT Vision.

"Signing for United has re-ignited my love of the game."

Owen has scored 40 goals in 89 caps for England but is yet to feature under Fabio Capello, though his non-involvement has not dampened his passion to play for his country.

He said: "As long as I’m fit and playing at the top level I’ll always be available for England."

OwenS fit for pre-season training

Michael Owen and Owen Hargreaves have given Manchester United a massive boost by declaring themselves fit for pre-season training.

The first-team squad - excluding the World Cup stars - are due back on July 5 but both Owen and Hargreaves have already been in at the Red Devils' Carrington training ground to work with the fitness team.

Owen has worked ferociously to recover from the knee injury that cut short his season.

The United staff have been impressed with his dedication and are convinced he is ready to take a full part in pre-season and the club's tour of America and Canada.

Owen will be joined by Hargreaves, who is over his 20-month injury crisis. The England midfielder managed a brief end-of-season bow against Sunderland after crippling tendinitis threatened his career.

He has recently returned from a trip to Colorado, where he continues to receive treatment.

But there have been no ill-effects and Hargreaves has been able to maintain a high-intensity training programme through the summer, much to the relief of manger Sir Alex Ferguson and England boss Fabio Capello.

Capello even considered Hargreaves as part of the pre-World Cup party until Fergie made it clear the player was not match-fit.

The FA's medical staff, however, have been monitoring his fitness with Capello pencilling Hargreaves in for an international return in September for the start of the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Michael Owen is put through punishing fitness regime

Michael Owen is having secret training sessions at Manchester United to prove his fitness to Sir Alex Ferguson.

The former England striker was ruled out for the rest of the season after surgery on his hamstrings in February.

Owen has been spotted at United's Carrington training centre several times this summer as he is put through a punishing fitness regime.

The United striker, who scored nine goals for the club before picking up the injury in the Carling Cup final against Aston Villa, is already running again.

Owen has also been given a weights programme to follow and is also doing some ball-work as part of his recovery.

The striker scored three goals in 19 Premier League appearance for United before the injury finished his season.

He scored United's opening goal against Villa in the Carling Cup final win at Wembley, but had to be taken off after 42 minutes.

The next day it was announced that he was to have surgery on the damaged area, but he expects to be back in time for the start of the season.