Owen could quit football if United release him

Manchester United's forgotten striker Michael Owen has hinted that he may quit football if he is released by the club at the end of the season and can't find another employer in the Premier League.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle poacher has been usurped in the Old Trafford pecking order by young Mexican Javier Hernandez, who is almost a clone of the 30-year-old. And it could be that Alex Ferguson decides he only has room for one baby-faced assassin in the squad when the season comes to an end.

Since arriving at United Owen has made 38 appearances for United - 24 of them as a substitute - and has managed 12 goals. He has also been plagued by injuries, and is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem.

His rival, Hernandez - aka Chicharito, or the Little Pea - has been at the club for just a few months, but since the start of the season he has scored six goals in 11 games.

The 22-year-old is in scintillating form at the moment and by the time Owen returns to fitness after his latest injury Chicharito could feasibly have equalled his goal tally.

However, Owen is not put out by Hernandez's success and heaped praise on the young Mexican, saying he was reminded of himself when he watched him. He also declared his intention to stay with United if offered the chance.

But if Ferguson does call time on Owen's stint at United in the summer, the former England striker says he will only carry on if he can find another big club to play for.

"I could score at this level for many years and would love it to be at a top club like United," said Owen. "Whether I would want to be dropping down to a poorer Premier League team, I don't know.

"I've played for some of the biggest clubs in the world over my career and I've had not such a good time at certain clubs, where I've been in the relegation zone, struggling away. Training with top players every day, being among the elite players, is what I enjoy doing more.

"And if that means not playing as much but playing in a good team with good players creating chances, then I'd prefer to do that than slog away every week and hardly get a touch of the ball." ·