Manchester United striker Michael Owen thinks that it is too early in the season for Manchester City to be deemed title favourites.

Roberto Mancini's side sit top of the table in the Premier League, five points adrift of the Red Devils.

"They are top of the league, playing great – as well as they've performed in years," The Mirror quotes Owen as saying.

"They obviously beat us quite well in the league and deserved to win that game. But it was only a few weeks earlier that we played really well and beat them in the Community Shield.

"Everyone then was taking a step back then and saying, 'It might be a year too soon for City' and it just shows how quickly things can change."

While United's bitter rivals are on an unbeaten run, the former Liverpool frontman thinks that it won't be long until they come up short.

"They're on a crest of a wave at the minute, but every team will go through a sticky patch at some point and we're still early on in the season," he added.

"We'll see what happens after Christmas and start forming opinions then, but there's no doubt about it, they're a force to be reckoned with."

Meanwhile, the former England international will spend six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury.