He first caught the eye with his performances in the 2000/01 Champions League when he was an assured replacement for the suspended Steffen Effenberg in the semi-finals.

For England he saved his best performance for the friendly against Paraguay in mid-April.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has long been an admirer of the young Canadian-born Bayern Munich man.

England were relieved when Hargreaves opted to play for them rather than Canada, Wales or Germany for whom he was also eligible.

Eriksson fast-tracked the youngster from the Under-21s to ensure he would choose a future with England.

Hargeaves gives Eriksson options in defence having played part of the season in the Bundesliga at right-back.