Fergie: Transfer window isn’t the solution to our problems

Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken about Manchester United’s recent injury crisis, insisting that he won’t be using the January transfer window to bolster united’ weakened defensive line.

United have struggled with eight first senior defenders injured at one point, along with first choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, but Sir Alex believes signing new players is not the answer to United’s problems.

Wes Brown, Nemanja Vidic and the Da Silva twins have all returned to somewhat ease United’ injury woes, but with long term questions being asked of both Rio Ferdinand and John O’Shea, speculation has been rife that the united boss would invest in a centre half this January.

“Inevitably, people look to this month’s transfer window as a solution to our injury worries but it is not the answer,” Ferguson told The Sun.

“If someone could give me the name of a really good centre-half who would accept a three-month contract then I would jump at the chance. But where do you find a player like that?

“A decent player would be looking for a three-year contract and I don’t need that kind of addition.

“It is difficult enough leaving good players out of the team without adding another to the mix, so I won’t be looking for a senior player to ease our defensive crisis.

“Hopefully the worst is over anyway and we can get stability at the back. Once we do that, I am sure we will make up the ground we have lost.”

Captain Gary Neville made the bench for Wednesday night’s 5-0 thrashing of Wigan Athletic and Sir Alex expects Jonny Evans to be back with a fortnight. He also believes the united medical staff have finally got to the bottom of the back injury that has plagued Rio Ferdinand for the past two seasons.

“The main thing for Rio is there is no recurrence of the back problem,” said Ferguson. “That is what we have been waiting for.

“We wanted him to come through the test of running and turning. He is doing his programme in the gymnasium, which is good and at the moment it is looking very healthy.”

The bad news for Ferguson is that John O’Shea will be missing for up to two months. When he hobbled off during the Republic of Ireland’s defeat to France in a World Cup tie breaker, it was thought he had suffered nothing more than a dead leg, but it now appears to be much worse than first believed and Ferguson admits losing such a versatile squad player is a massive blow.

“There is no sign of recovery at all for John,” said Ferguson.

“It is his first injury at the club and he is a big loss because he is such a versatile player.

“We just want to get him back but it could be a couple of months yet.”

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