I felt sorry for Hargreaves on Saturday, a mistake from Fergie to chuck him in at the beginning in a weakened side. At least it's "only" his hamstring and not his knee, so he has a chance to recover. He was a great player a few years ago, and is one of the missing links in our midfield, however, injuries have probably ended his time at United, if not his career.

Looks as though Ole is about to leave United and take over at Molde. It'll be a shame to see him go.

I reckon Gary Neville will get Ole's job then.

Temporary leave of absence for the next step in his training?

At this moment in time it's difficult to tell whether or not his career has finished. Players who are making their way back from long-term injuries, tend to pick up strains and pulls. I would give it a bit more time.

If his career is about to come to an end it will be a real shame. I am glad to say that this was the view of the majority of posters on a City forum when this issue was discussed recently.

One of the problems with Hargreaves is that he is the kind of player that needs to be 100% fit as his speed and his ability to get cover the park are his strengths.

From a 'neutral' (hahaha) perspective, I too think he is the kind of player you are missing in your midfield.

Don't worry, you won't need any pace in your midfield tomorrow as we allow teams on to us! Ferguson has wrapped Scholes in cotton wool knowing that we will sit back and let him fire 40-yard passes to Nani.

Someone was reading the News Of The World on Sunday

Did Hargreaves play any/many reserve matches before the weekend?

I find it bizarre the way that nowadays managers throw players, that have just recovered from lengthy injuries, into the first team without first gently building up their match fitness in the reserves. I couldnt understand why Balotelii and Kolarov didnt play in City's reserves. Just seems to be asking for problems.

Why? The clubs have physios and medical staff, as well as access to top medical facilites. They know more than you and i about how to bring a player back to fitness. I doubt they act on a whim. The players are very valuable assets so they are unlikely to take many risks.

I know that Hargreaves was scheduled to play in a reserves Derby at Ewen Fields about 5 or 6 weeks ago but I can't remember if he played.

It was Sept 24th that Fergie announced Hargreaves was back in training, so it's not like they just threw him back in.

Reserve games have a place in rehab of players, but they obviously aren't of the same standard or intensity as PL games. And there's the obvious problem that you can get kicked just the same in a reserve match as you can in a real match. In many ways there may be more problems in reserve games because the eyes of the world aren't watching reserve games.

I'm prety sure he had to pull out of that game with a calf strain, thats the problem when coming back from a long term lay off your muscles are prone to pulls and strains and even though minor can knock you back a month. I was out for around 6 months with a broken ankle but it took another 6 months after a comeback to get anywhere near fitness it's one of the most frustraiting things you just feel like quitting.

One of the reporters in Twitter (poss a telegraph one) posted that he was surprised Hargreaves was thrown in like he was, as he was told the week before that he was nowhere near physically, nor mentally, ready.