Owen Hargreaves has admitted the knee injury that has disrupted his first season at Manchester United may never fully heal.

Hargreaves has started only 14 Premier League matches since moving to Old Trafford from Bayern Munich last year as he struggles with the patella tendon problem.

The England midfielder has been told there is little doctors can do to cure the injury, but he is still able to play and is determined to make the most of his time with the English champions.

"It's something the doctors say I have to manage because when you get this problem it stays with you," he told The Times. "It's the patella tendon and it's different to most injuries. If you break something, that's easy.

"The bone or the ligament will heal. But the tendon is more complicated. It has to burn itself out. Sometimes it takes a few months, sometimes a few years. There aren't a lot of answers.

"I'd like to play every game but it's not possible and you have to say 'Hats off' to the lads who have been in the team ahead of me."