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It looks like former England international Owen Hargreaves has returned to Canada in an attempt to find a job with a new soccer team.

Videos of Hargreaves doing various workouts posted on YouTube appear to have been taken in Vancouver. Grouse Mountain, part of the North Shore Mountains of the Pacific Ranges in North Vancouver, appears in one of the videos.

Hargreaves, who was born in Calgary, was released by Manchester United in May after just 27 appearances in four years. The 30-year-old has suffered a series of knee injuries and a case of chronic tendinitis.

In the videos, Hargreaves is shown working out on a treadmill and doing footwork on an outdoor field.

Sources say Hargreaves is training with Vancouver physiotherapist Alex McKechnie, who has worked with NBA stars Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Nash, plus figure skater Michelle Kwan in the past.

McKechnie refused to make any comment about Hargreaves in a brief interview with The Canadian Press.

Hargreaves's history of injury could discourage teams in England or Europe from offering him a contract.

There has been speculation Major League Soccer teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC might offer him a deal. The Whitecaps have called a press conference for Tuesday morning for a major player announcement, although whether that will involve Hargreaves could not be confirmed.

"We are always looking to improve our roster but it is our club policy to not comment on speculation," Paul Barber, the Whitecaps chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Hargreaves started his professional soccer career in Germany with Bayern Munich. In seven years he helped Bayern Munich win four German league titles and the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League.

He signed with Manchester United in 2007, where he won the Premier League and UEFA Champions League in his first season.

Born in Canada with a Welsh mother and English father, Hargreaves decided to play for the England under-21 team in 2000. He has 42 caps for England.

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