Hargreaves out for rest of year

Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves will not play again before the end of the year.

The England international, who suffered a broken left fibula on September 17, had hoped to be back in action within six weeks but the injury has proved more difficult than expected to overcome.

"It's better if I don't play again in 2006," Hargreaves told Thursday's Kicker magazine. "The first half of the season is now over."

Bayern have three more Bundesliga games and one apiece in the Champions League and German Cup before the long winter break.

Manchester United made a determined bid to sign Hargreaves after the World Cup and the 25-year-old has not ruled out making a move to England during the mid-season break.

"A thousand things happen in the winter," he said. "In life there are always surprises."