Manchester United recently signed Michael Owen on a Bosman transfer from Newcastle United, much to the surprise of the wider footballing community.

However, the former Liverpool poacher has scored four goals in as many matches in pre-season, and Sir Alex Ferguson expects more of the same once the Premier League kicks off in August.

"[Owen] is a natural goalscorer and his record is fantastic," SportingLife quoted Ferguson as saying.

"He is 29 now and he has just got to stay the way he has been for 10 years."

Owen’s tryst with niggles and injuries have been the talking point of his career during the last four years, and yet Ferguson reckons the striker is a safe bet.

"His injuries have always been the main subject and that is probably why everyone in Europe was not after him," the wily Scot explained.

"We [United] don't think we have taken a risk, given his record as a goalscorer.

"It is a good punt, or a good bet on him to do well, and hopefully we are right."

If Owen features in the Red Devils' Audi Cup matches on Wednesday and Thursday, he will have played six games in 12 days - a promising sign for a man whose career has been so blighted by injury.