Owen turns back the clock with hat-trick

Out-of-favour England striker Michael Owen wound back the clock with a superb treble to lead Manchester United to a 3-1 win over VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

Owen, who turns 30 next week, has been fighting to regain his place in Fabio Capello's side and his virtuoso performance will improve his chances of a recall ahead of next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

"I think a lot of people probably think I'm 35 already, but I've been saying lately 'I'm still in my 20s'," the former Liverpool and Real Madrid player told Sky Sports.

"I've scored a few hat-tricks in my time but it's always nice to score them."

The treble was Owen's first since moving to United from Newcastle United in July, his last coming for Newcastle in 2005.

Yet the most memorable came in Munich, at the beginning of Sven-Goran Eriksson's reign as England manager.

In September 2001, Owen scored a scintillating treble to down Germany 5-1 in Munich, a country he clearly enjoys playing in.

Since his international debut in 1998, Owen has gone on to play 89 times for his country, scoring 40 goals.

Recently, however, due mainly to injury and being out of favour with current manager Fabio Capello, Owen hasn't played for his country since March 2008.

His latest exploits are bound to add weight to the claim that he should travel to South Africa next year.

The striker himself said in September he was enjoying a new lease of life after his Old Trafford move, also making light of his injury woes by saying: "I am 100 percent the same player I was in Munich (2001)."