Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Canadian-born Owen Hargreaves has been left out of Manchester United's Champions League squad for the knockout stage, putting further doubt on his recovery from a long-standing injury.

Since last playing for the Premier League champions in September 2008, Hargreaves, of Calgary, has been forced to have two operations in a bid to cure a tendinitis problem that has plagued him since signing from Bayern Munich in July 2007.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had hoped to name the midfielder in his 25-man European squad, but Hargreaves won't be part of the quest to reach a third successive final.

United plays AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg in Italy on Feb. 16.