NEW Manchester United striker Michael Owen admits he leapt at the chance to join the Barclays Premier League champions after a surprise phone call from manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

The 29-year-old, whose contract with relegated Newcastle expired at the end of June, has signed a two-year deal at Old Trafford which could also boost his chances of forcing his way back into the England squad before next summer’s World Cup finals.

Owen’s poor injury record over recent years which blighted his spell at St James’ Park was thought to be a major factor in the unwillingness of most of England’s top clubs to consider taking him on a free transfer.

With the likes of Hull and Stoke publicly declaring their interest in the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player it seemed Owen was destined to have to accept a substantial drop in both wages and the standard of football which he craved.

His advisors had just begun negotiations with a number of interested parties before a surprise phone call from Ferguson changed the outlook on everything.

‘‘I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning, during which he told me he wanted to sign me,’’ said Owen.

‘‘I agreed without a moment’s thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

‘‘I am now looking forward to being a Manchester United player and I am fortunate that I already know so many of the players here.

‘‘I missed pre-season last year and am pleased that I will be starting at Carrington from day one.

‘‘I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances.

‘‘It feels great. When I got the call from the manager to come round and meet him it was a shock, but I’m obviously really happy.

‘‘I’ve had a poor spell up at Newcastle but prior to that my career was very good, and I’m sure a top club like this can re-ignite my career.’’ Owen added that his fitness problems of recent seasons should not be a concern for United’s fans.

‘‘I’d like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical,’’ he said.

‘‘I passed my medical and I’ve obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high. A lot is made of it but I certainly don’t feel like I’m injury prone.’’ Ferguson has been a longtime admirer of Owen and his signing does not represent as much of a gamble as some have made out.

The fact Owen was a free agent, and that he is believed to have agreed a basic salary with pay-as-you play bonuses, means the Old Trafford boss has nothing to lose.

And Ferguson, who lost out to Real Madrid in the race to sign Lyon striker Karim Benzema, can see through the injury woes which have robbed Owen of what should have been the prime years of his career.

He believes there is still plenty to come from a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals.

‘‘Michael is a world-class forward with a proven scoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question,’’ said the United boss.

‘‘Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish.’’ Owen will hope moving to United, with the promise of Champions League football again, will help his bid to force his way back into Fabio Capello’s England squad. That is particularly important with the World Cup – likely to be Owen’s last major tournament – looming next summer.

He no doubt thinks he will be helped by regularly playing alongside Capello’s firstchoice forward Wayne Rooney at United.

If he remains injury-free he should still be able to score goals considering the amount of creativity United have on the field, one factor he desperately lacked during his disappointing spell at Newcastle.

Owen may not replace the sheer number of goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Ferguson sold to Madrid for a worldrecord £80m, or the work-rate of Carlos Tevez, who appears on the verge of a move to Manchester City after his lease agreement ran out at Old Trafford, but he has the knack of scoring at important times.

It is that pedigree which Ferguson hopes will shine through next season.