Hargreaves to kick-start United career

Canada-born Hargreaves has been destined for the English game ever since shrewd judge Howard Wilkinson pinched him from under Wales' nose for his England Under 21s debut six years ago.

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Ironically, the midfielder was beaten to the punch in making his first appearance in the Premier League by his old Bayern Munich team-mate, Roque Santa Cruz, who came off the bench to head Blackburn's equaliser on his debut on Saturday at Middlesbrough.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who tracked Hargreaves doggedly and wore down Bayern's resistance over a year, will give his new midfielder his opportunity after he missed out on the opener against Reading.

But Anderson, another of United's costly summer signings, will not start at Fratton Park, where United need to make up lost ground after dropping two vital points at the weekend.

Ferguson has decided against amove into the transfer market to find cover for Wayne Rooney, who is ruled out until October with a broken metatarsal.

United's scouting network were called in for a meeting on Monday but Sir Alex, having off-loaded £6m Alan Smith to Newcastle, is prepared to carry on with his current striking staff.

Crowd favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who refuses to succumb either to his injuries or his age in his 35th year, is ready to step up his bid for match fitness.

Louis Saha is some way off a return to Premier League action. So Argentine star Carlos Tevez is likely to have to shoulder the burden in attack for two months.

United's other Argentina international, Gabriel Heinze, is a target for French champions Lyon but the player has his heart set on joining Liverpool.