It’s been a difficult year for England International and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves that has seen multiple injuries, surgeries and setback for the 28 year old.  After it was thought initially that he’d be in line to recover for the 2009 / 10 season, now his career is being called into question after the “Patellar Tendinitis” is causing more problems than expected.

Via BBC 

Hargreaves, who is halfway through a four-year contract at United, hopes to begin training with the United first team at the end of July or the start of August but he could be restricted to as little as one session per week.

Manchester United declined to comment on Hargreaves’ current level of fitness, but it is believed that his injury is so delicate it can only be monitored on a day-to-day basis and stepping up the intensity of his rehabilitation programme could have potentially disastrous ramifications.

If the England international suffers a recurrence of the original problem he would face another lengthy absence.

Hargreaves aims to manage the injury as slowly as necessary before making a return when he is pain free but he will not return if he is feeling any level of discomfort.

If Hargreaves is pain free he is likely to be able to play at the top level for at least four or five more years but, if not, a premature end is likely.

His condition, patellar tendinitis, can be described as inflammation of the tendon that attaches the quadriceps (thigh muscle) to the tibia (shin bone).

It can be caused by a number of factors, including a rapid increase in the frequency of training, sudden increase in the intensity of training, transition from one training method to another, genetic abnormalities of the knee joint and poor base strength of the quadriceps.

Image via Daylife