Michael Owen has signed for Manchester United Getty

NEW Manchester United striker Michael Owen insists he is fighting fit and his injury-plagued past should not be a concern.

The 29-year-old last night signed a two-year deal with the Premier League champions after swift negotiations which lasted less than 48 hours.

A chequered history with injuries – hamstring problems at Liverpool, knee ligament issues at Newcastle – was thought to have deterred most of England's top clubs from considering signing the out-of-contract striker.

But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had no hesitation in signing Owen for free.

Today, he believes his new boss was right not to be frightened off by reams of medical notes detailing exactly why he had spent much of his four-year spell on Tyneside on the sidelines.

The former Real Madrid forward is believed to have undergone an assessment on his troublesome knee in London on Thursday before travelling to Manchester yesterday for a more general physical check-up.

"I'd like to think that everyone was quite surprised with my medical," said Owen. "I passed my medical and I've obviously passed them before, and my fitness is high.

"A lot is made out of it, but I certainly don't feel like I'm injury-prone."

His manager will hope not as, if he can stay fit, Owen could still have plenty of goals left in him.

"Michael is a world class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level"

"Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goalscoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question," said Ferguson, who is a long-time admirer of a player who scored 158 goals in 297 matches for Liverpool and struck 40 times in 89 England internationals.

"Coming to Manchester United with the expectations that we have is something that Michael will relish."

Owen will see his move to Old Trafford as a double challenge. First, he has to show he can still score goals at the highest level and, second, he wants to use his higher profile to regain his England place for next summer’s World Cup.

The promise of Champions League football and a realistic chance of winning some, if not all, domestic trophies gives Owen plenty of games to prove himself all over again.

A return to elite-level football, having struggled at St James' Park before they were relegated to the Championship, was one of the deciding factors in choosing Old Trafford.

The backing he received from Ferguson after a hastily-arranged breakfast meeting on Thursday also convinced him to move to United.

"I had just begun to talk to other clubs when out of the blue Sir Alex phoned me on Wednesday afternoon, invited me to have breakfast with him next morning during which he told me that he wanted to sign me," said Owen.

"I agreed without a moment's thought. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I intend to seize it with both hands.

"I've had a poor spell up at Newcastle, but prior to that my career was very good, and I'm sure a top club like this can reignite my career.

"I want to thank Sir Alex for the faith he has shown in me and I give him my assurance that I will repay him with my goals and performances."