Manchester United forward Michael Owen has admitted the chance to stay at a successful club was a key factor in his decision on whether or not to sign a further one-year contract at Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old strikers two-year deal expired at the end of last season, and despite only making 17 appearances last term, the former Real Madrid and Liverpool man featured on the bench in absence of Dimitar Berbatov during the 3-1 defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Whilst he did not feature in the game, the episode was a catalyst towards a new deal at the club, and Owen has since suggested that he would prefer to remain with a top side rather than switch to a lesser team in order to gain first team action.

Speaking to the clubs official website, Owen said: "You want the best of every world as a footballer. You want to be playing at the best club - I'm at that - and you want to be training with the best players and under the best manager - I am certainly doing that.

"You want to play at the best stadiums and in big games and obviously it's near to where I live. There are lots of positives. The only slight negative is the amount I played last season.

"The option is there to go to a lesser club and play more often but I'd prefer to play in a top team with all the things that come with it."

The Chester-born player has also insisted he is firmly part of Sir Alex Fergusons plans for next season, despite an injury-plagued campaign last year which began with a hamstring injury in the Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa in February 2010, a game in which Owen scored.

"The first season was great and had some great moments - scoring in the cup final and the goal against Manchester City, hat-trick in Wolfsburg," Owen added.

"Last year wasn't quite so good, but the manager has spoken to me and said I'll be firmly in his plans this season.

"He expects me to play a lot more."



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