Many people will say that Michael Owen had to take Manchester United's offer as the best chance of resurrecting his World cup dream in Fabio Capello`s England team.

But the truth is he will most likely be a bit-part player for the Red Devils and would have been much better served by signing for one of the lower Pre mier League teams he was talking to when United's offer came in.

At Hull City, for example, he would have played every injury-free minute and would have had a chance to really prove if he still has what it takes to cut it at the top level. Instead, he'll likely be reduced to coming on in the 80th minute to give Wayne Rooney and Co. a bit of a rest.

When I see the picture of Owen grinning holding the United scarf above his head, it shows just how low the little fella has fallen from his heyday as an Anfield idol.

Some may even say that he never really was an Anfield idol as he never was as close to the fans as his contemporaries Robbie Fowler or Ian Rush. That is true to a point but he was revered by the Liverpool faithful in the early days.

There were many great moments and some great goals, but that was all soured when he forced the then new manager, Rafa Benitez, to sell him for a knock-down price to Real Madrid in 2004.

And he has soured that relationship with the Liverpool fans after agreeing to join our arch-enemies.

Remember, this is not some foreigner like Gabriel Heinze or Carlos Tevez but a player who came up through the Liverpool youth set-up, so he knows exactly what it means to the Liverpool faithful to cross the divide.

But there is one ray of sunshine in all this, and it is that without bad luck, Michael Owen would have no luck at all.

He left Liverpool for sunny Madrid to play regularly in the Champions League, the very same year that Liverpool lifted the trophy on that glorious night in Istanbul in a fixture in which most players can only dream of playing.

Now we can all see where his latest bout of luck has left Newcastle United. So let's all hope that Owen's lucky streak continues with Manchester United. Relegation might be hoping for a little too much, though!