Michael Owen has high hopes for the new season

The 31-year-old striker has signed a one-year extension on his Old Trafford deal after joining the club from Newcastle United.

Last season, Owen’s first-team opportunities were restricted, leaving him in the shadows of the preferred partnership of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez.

Own has said the major reason he signed the new deal is because he got the assurances from Ferguson.

He told Sky Sports News: "The manager spoke to me just prior to the end of the season and said that he wanted me to stay and saw that I had a big part to play next season, which is obviously why I signed the extra year option that I had in my original contract.

"I was delighted to hear that, for starters, and then obviously to agree to it. I've said many times, the only way to go from a club like this is down."

Owen believes there will be plenty of games to share around this season.

"We do play more games than most teams," he added. "We get to the latter stages in a lot of cup competitions so there's a lot of games to go around.

"My first season was fantastic, I played an awful lot of games. Last year was a little bit quieter, everyone seemed to be fit and playing well.

"Obviously the goals that were being scored by everyone else didn't allow you to get that look-in. But I still had some great times and hopefully this year is going to be the same."