Returning Hargreaves sets his sights on England recall

Manchester City are confident that Hargreaves has overcome the worst of his injury problems (GETTY IMAGES)

It says a lot about the depths of despair Owen Hargreaves has dragged himself back from that his summer reading, as he rallied for a last shot at the Premier League, included a book about a triathlete who had used positive thinking to find a way back into competitive sport having been hit by a car while out on his bike.

Hargreaves will probably only really know what reserves of mental fortitude he can draw on at some point during Manchester City's Carling Cup tie with Birmingham City tonight, a game which Roberto Mancini's coaching staff have earmarked as the one for the 30-year-old to be eased back in – three years to the day since the injury-ravaged midfielder last completed 90 minutes in a competitive game.

"If I do a great job here [at City], then I will be in the England team probably again," said Hargreaves of his long-term ambitions.