Wayne Rooney fears former team-mate Owen Hargreaves will find it difficult to get back to his best if he signs for Manchester City.

Hargreaves, 30, who was released by Manchester United this summer, had a medical at City on Tuesday.

After further talks, if stringent checks come back all clear, Hargreaves will sign an appearance-related deal.

"He worked really hard and got back last season, played one game and then got a hamstring injury," Rooney said.

"He's been out for a couple of years. I think it will be difficult for him to get back to his best. I hope he can do so.

"From an England point of view he was a type of midfield player that we hadn't really had before.

"If he can get back that would be great but it will be difficult for him."

Hargreaves was released by Sir Alex Ferguson after four injury-blighted years at Old Trafford.

He had been linked with West Brom before emerging as a shock target for Man City coach Roberto Mancini.

City keeper Joe Hart was visibly stunned when the news of Hargreaves' possible arrival as a new team-mate was revealed to him during a media briefing while he was on England duty ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales.

He responded when told of the deal: "Pardon? Is he? Wowzers. Where's that come from? Really? I don't know what to make of that. That's been put right on my toes.

"It could be a massive signing. You can tell how important he was.

"I've never been involved with him but I saw a lot of him before and how highly he was regarded when he was at Bayern Munich and at Manchester United.

"He's a huge player and if he's fit and a part of Man City, he'll be another great signing."

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott added: "Owen is an experienced player, he has played in the Champions League, is an international. It is only going to be good for the City squad if he signs.

"People ask if it represents a gamble but the club know what they are doing, Owen knows what he is doing. He is still a good player.

"If we can get him fit, I'm sure it won't be very long before he is back to his best. He will be a player with a point to prove after his injuries."

Hargreaves was England's star performer at the World Cup in Germany in 2006. He joined Manchester United from Bayern Munich for £18m the following year.

Hargreaves played in the 2008 Champions League final victory over Chelsea in Moscow but then began to suffer with knee problems, restricting him to four appearances in three seasons.

He lasted just 10 minutes of his comeback against Wolves last September and United opted not to renew his contract as a result.

Wesley Sneijder felt he was "close" to joining Manchester United but insists that he is happy to stay at Inter.

Sneijder had been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer, particularly as Inter appeared eager to offload their high earners, but they eased their financial concerns with the sale of Samuel Eto'o to Anzhi earlier in the month.

Sneijder had thought a move was likely but insists he is happy to remain in Milan.

"I had felt that a move was close, yes," he told AD. "There were talks on several occasions. The situation was that Inter had to sell a player - Eto'o or me. There was interest, but due to a combination of things, it didn't happen.

"They are one of the biggest clubs in the world, so it wasn't a bad option, but at the same time I didn't want to leave Inter. I'm in Italy and it's been great for me.

"I'm not saying I wouldn't have felt the same about [United], but for me it wasn't a situation where I felt I had to move, and there were a few factors that meant it didn't happen."

The key issue with the deal was said to be Sneijder's wage demands, but he added: "For me it wasn't so much a financial issue. Things are very good at Inter. I love the club and also the Italian people and the Italian culture. It suits me."

Inter president Massimo Moratti insists he is pleased that Sneijder will remain with the club.

"We were very keen to keep Sneijder," he said. "He is a player that has a lot of class and has behaved very well this summer"

Inter also reinforced the squad with two additions in attack: Diego Forlan joined on a permanent contract from Atletico Madrid while Mauro Zarate moved from Lazio on an initial loan deal that can be made permanent at the end of the season.

"I believe we have a very strong team," Moratti said. "We have new players and so many possibilities. It has been an interesting and good transfer market. We begin the season with great ambition.

"Forlan is a champion that can make the fans dream."

On Zarate, he added: "I got a call from the Lazio president yesterday morning and we managed to reach an agreement. It was a great move. Zarate is a player that we really wanted and he is very happy to be at Inter."

Bolton captain Kevin Davies has apologised to Tom Cleverley after his challenge left the Manchester United midfielder with ligament damage.

Davies' wife, Emma, tweeted: "For all the ill-informed haters... Kevin spoke to Tom Cleverley on the phone. He would never intentionally hurt anyone."

The injury occurred in the fifth minute of United's 5-0 win at Bolton and the 22-year-old will be out for a month.

Cleverley was substituted and left the ground in a protective boot.

The injury means Cleverley will miss England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October in addition to club matches.

"It was unfortunate," Ferguson told BBC Sport of the injury. "We expected it, it was a bad tackle."

Davies was not cautioned for the incident but shortly afterwards picked up his 100th Premier League booking after a challenge on Patrice Evra.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Fernando Torres' miss: "I thought he was bound to score. It was a bad miss, he had so much time. It reminded me of one that Diego Forlan missed for us against Juventus in a pre-season friendly."

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas on his side's 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford: "It was a crazy game. The scoreline doesn't represent what happened in the game. We had very good chances but it didn't fall our way."

Manchester United will give 18-year-old French midfielder Paul Pogba his first team debut against Leeds United on Tuesday night, and Michael Carrick believes he will go on to be a star for the club.

Pogba, who was controversially picked up from Le Havre at the age of 16, has already made a huge impression during the club's FA Youth Cup success last season.

He has only once appeared in the first team matchday squad before when an unused substitute in February's 1-0 home win over Crawley Town in the FA Cup Fifth Round.

Carrick believes the time is right for Pogba to be given his bow and that he will realise his potential.

"Paul is a huge talent,'' said Carrick. "He has trained with us a number of times, so we have seen quite a lot of him and he looks very promising.

"If he goes about things in the right way and gets a little bit of luck at the right time, he is going to have a bright future.''

FA Youth Cup-winning skipper Tom Thorpe, Ezekiel Fryers, Larnell Cole and Michael Keane are also in Sir Alex Ferguson's squad. A number of experienced players, including Michael Owen, Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov may be involved as United look to avenge their FA Cup loss to old rivals Leeds.

"We are well aware what Leeds means, because of the fans and the rivalry over the years,'' said Carrick. "The FA Cup game was a bad day for us so I am sure the manager will pick a strong team.

"Rotation has been part of it since I have been here. People get carried away sometimes when you miss a game or two but the manager sees the bigger picture. As a player, you just have to trust him.

"It is frustrating at times but it is proven at the end of the season if you have a trophy. That is the way it is. Whoever comes in is not going to weaken the team in any way. They just offer something different.

"They are great options for the manager to have.''