Midnight last Wednesday saw the close of the transfer window for the UEFA leagues.
With it several eye-catching last minute deals were struck.
A couple of those included that of Owen Hargreaves and Joe Cole.
So, how successful will three of the most talented but also most injury-prone England internationals in recent years be?
Will they be able to resurrect their flagging careers having just completed moves to their respective new clubs.
Here’s what we are thinking:
Owen Hargreaves – Aged 30
League appearances in last two seasons – 2 / 114 games
At the 2006 World Cup, Hargreaves was deemed by many as the best “holding” midfielder in the tournament, but sadly, he has been injury-plagued ever since.
During his four-year spell at Manchester United he played less than a total of 40 games.
Transfer deadline day, saw him move over to join the enemy- the Blue half of Manchester.
He’ll likely just be a squad player for the cash-rich Citizens.
If he can stay injury-free, he might be a useful back-up option to Yaya Toure, De Jong and Barry.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Joe Cole – Aged 29
League appearances in last two seasons – 46 / 114 games
Steven Gerrard once said of Cole: “He’s better than Messi” – but not for a while now Stevie!
Dodgy knees and a long-lingering fight with ACL ligament damage, has plagued Cole for the past three years.
His move to Liverpool from Chelsea at the beginning of last season was meant to be a fresh start for him.
But with the abrupt departure of Roy Hodgson- the manager that signed him to Liverpool- Cole has been frozen out of the team ever since Dalglish took charge. His re-occurring injuries have not helped.
He has now been farmed out to the French Champions Lille on a one year loan deal.
Given more playing time, we are optimistic that his unique attacking flair and brilliant footwork can be re-invigorated.
Jonathan Woodgate – Aged 31
League appearances in last two seasons – 3 / 114 games
Nicknamed “Galactico” after his big money move to join Real Madrid in 2004, Woodgate is a stylish central defender who has endured a nightmare buffet of injuries over the past five years- and ever since returning to UK after his Spanish adventure.
Woodgate could prove to be the shrewdest bit of business done over the Summer – joining Stoke from Spurs on a one-year, pay-as-you-play contract.
He has started in all three EPL games for Stoke and has been bloody outstanding.