Owen Hargreaves in training with QPR following Manchester City release

It appeared he had won his fitness battle when he made a goalscoring Blues debut in a Carling Cup encounter against Birmingham in September.

However, Hargreaves made just three more appearances for City and was not seen again after being introduced as a late substitute in the FA Cup third-round defeat to United at the Etihad Stadium in January.

And only last month he said: "I don't want to chase something. If I get the right fit I will go for it.

"But I am not forced to do anything and if I can't get back to the level I used to, I don't want to play."