Michael Owen is expected to complete his shock move to Manchester United this evening once final medical checks have been conducted. The former Newcastle and England striker spent the day at the club's Carrington training complex but left early in the afternoon in a black Audi 4x4 to attend a south Manchester hospital for more tests.

Owen, whose contract with the Magpies expired at the end of June, had a medical examination yesterday to assess the troublesome knee which has troubled him since suffering the injury at the 2006 World Cup. However, it is anticipated the ex-Liverpool forward will return to Carrington this evening when he will officially be confirmed as a United player.

Owen scored 30 times in 65 starts for Newcastle but did not find the net after January. He will be extremely motivated to prove his critics wrong but would nevertheless represent a major gamble for United and their manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. United have sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80m while Carlos Tevez has also left the club after his loan deal expired.

United have already signed Luis Antonio Valencia from Wigan for £16m in what promises to be a busy summer at Old Trafford. They did, however, miss out on signing the Lyon striker Karim Benzema, who joined Real Madrid this week for £30m.