Owen hat-trick delights Ferguson

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the efforts of Michael Owen after his hat-trick in their 3-1 Champions League win at Wolfsburg.

United secured top spot in group B with three fine finishes from the striker.

"It was a fantastic performance," said Ferguson. "Michael's finishing and positional play were superb.

"The evidence of a player is always on the field and Michael has given us that. He has proved his worth and I'm delighted with his performance."

Playing with a makeshift defence in Germany, United needed at least a draw to finish top of their group and were on the back foot for much of the match.

However, playing their counter-attack game, Owen nodded in a fine opener from Nani's cross on half-time, before tucking in two late goals after Edin Dzeko had equalised for the hosts.

The 29-year-old's goals capped off a fine showing from the former Liverpool striker, who has now scored seven times for United since his summer arrival despite often being a substitute.

"Obviously, in some games recently we have only played with one striker and Wayne Rooney has been it. Against Wolfsburg we used a different system," the United boss added.

"I made the point some weeks ago that Owen's training performances have improved steadily. I have had no worries about him."

Carrick, starting at the back with Darren Fletcher and Patrice Evra, almost conceded a penalty and after seeing two missed Wolfsburg headers early on, Ferguson was relieved to see his defence hold out.

"If Wolfsburg had gone in front it would have made it very difficult for us," he said.

"In that instance I do not know whether we would have persisted with the system we used. I just felt it was the best way to keep them out because Wolfsburg are a good attacking team.

"I felt we would get chances on the counter-attack and thankfully that is what happened."

With attentions now turning to the domestic campaign with the visit of Aston Villa on Saturday, Ferguson will be buoyed by the return of some of his missing stars.

Strikers Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney are expected to recover from injury, Ryan Giggs should play after being rested in Germany, while centre-half Nemanja Vidic has overcome flu.

"Our defence will be Fletcher, Carrick, Vidic and Evra," the Scot revealed.

From BBC