Soccer: Keane calls for more firepower

ROY KEANE is worried that unless Manchester United sign a striker during the January transfer window it could fatally undermine their defence of the Premiership title.

Though manager Alex Ferguson brought five new players to Old Trafford in the summer, the departures of David Beckham, Juan Sebastian Veron, Laurent Blanc, David May and Fabien Barthez kept the numbers static.

In addition, Paul Scholes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Wes Brown have all missed extensive periods of the current campaign through injury, placing even more demands on the men remaining.

"I have heard one or two people mention that we usually make our signings in the summer. But it is a long season and our squad is not as big as Arsenal's or Chelsea's and you need a big squad if you are going to challenge for honours.

"I believe we need another striker up there, someone with a physical presence. Hopefully we will get him," Keane said.

Leeds' Mark Viduka and Mateja Kezman, Van Nistelrooy's replacement at PSV, have both been mentioned as possible United recruits over the last few days.

And, while Keane has refused to indicate which player he would like to see Ferguson sign, he believes the arrival of a new forward would also spur the current strikers on to greater achievements.

While the Corkman has tended to make light of the hip surgery that ruled him out for almost four months last season, Ferguson has been far more cautious, pointing to the lengthy rehabilitations of Freddie Ljungberg and Robbie Fowler as evidence of how serious the operation can be.

"I would like to play in every game but the manager looks at the bigger picture and what is best for Manchester United. Whether I like it or not is not an issue," he said.

"In a sense, I agree with what he is saying because I think I will feel the benefit over the next couple of seasons. If I miss a big match this week I will be disappointed but there will be other players left out as well who will feel exactly the same."

Meanwhile, United stalwart Nicky Butt has admitted that his "dire" position at Old Trafford has led to him having thoughts of quitting the club.

Phil Neville's impressive form, plus the presence of skipper Keane and Brazilian World Cup winner Kleberson, have squeezed Butt out of Ferguson's first-choice side.

The weekend return of Paul Scholes from groin surgery, plus the anticipated January comeback of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, will only increase competition for midfield places.

"My situation has looked bleak this season I would be lying if I said otherwise," Butt said "Nobody in their right mind would want to leave this club if they are happy but at times I have thought this could be it for me. I have been playing here for 10 years and I don't want to leave," said Butt.

"But at my age I do need to be playing and at the moment things are pretty dire for me."

Meanwhile, United and Rio Ferdinand would have been aware that all players must take drugs tests within an hour of being told they have been chosen to give a sample, it was confirmed yesterday.

Ferdinand's disciplinary hearing for missing a drugs test takes place next week and his legal team are expected to base their defence on a claim that he offered to provide a sample while the testers were still at Manchester United's training ground.

However that is understood to be two hours after the intended test on September 23 and UK Sport stipulate an hour is the limit.