THE BAD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS

Despite not even playing a striker last night (what do you mean ‘Bellion’?) Fergie says:

"I am not saying I don't see a need to strengthen but it is not the perilous state people [you read that Keano?] think we are in.

"Paul Scholes and Ole Solskjaer are injured at the moment. So it is not a matter of quality it is a matter of numbers. But these two are going to be back very soon and that will make a difference. Scholesy will be back very, very soon. He is not far away.

"There are not many options of players who can play in Europe. If you look, and I keep saying this every year and nobody listens, there are 164 teams in the UEFA Cup and 64 teams in the Champions League.

"It is not as easy. You go through the list of players and people are telling you this one is a good player and that one is decent and then you are told he played in Europe. You say `when?' and you find he played in a qualifying game. That's the problem.”

Though is this all a smokescreen? Fairly authoritative sounding reports in the Indie and the Mirror report this recurring nightmare scenario:

“Sir Alex Ferguson, is ready to make an official £5m offer for the Leeds striker Mark Viduka when the transfer window opens in January.

“Ferguson is interested in acquiring the skilful but erratic Australian as he looks for variety in his attack. Viduka would be the most controversial signing Ferguson has made since Eric Cantona made the same trip across the Pennines a decade ago, but despite his temperament, which caused clashes with the former Leeds manager Peter Reid, Viduka has so much talent that he appeals to Ferguson.

“West Ham's Jermain Defoe and Fulham's Louis Saha have also been considered, but are young and lightweight compared to Viduka. Ferguson has always insisted he would be reluctant to bring in anyone who was cup-tied for the Champions' League, which appears to rule out a move for Manchester City's Nicolas Anelka because the £20m-rated Frenchman turned out for the Blues in this season's Uefa Cup.

“While big names such as Rivaldo, Alan Smith and Viduka are all likely to be available in January, they may not take too kindly to the prospect of acting as understudy to Van Nistelrooy.”