Fergie’s clear indication of major overhaul for United

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has given his clearest indication yet he would like to bring in some new faces to his squad.

With the opportunity to add players during January’s transfer window fast approaching, Ferguson believes he may have to dip into the market to stay in touch with Arsenal and Liverpool: ‘‘We have created three teams in 10 years here, and it is possible we are on the way to building another one,” Ferguson said. “And if we do, obviously new players can come in. We have trusted and believed in the nucleus of our squad, which has been there for a long time.

‘‘We always try to improve, and we have done that each summer, or we try to sign at least one player. Maybe it is time to assess that the nucleus of the team has been together for seven to nine years - it’s a long time.’’

United have been off the pace in the Barclaycard Premiership this season, although they closed the gap on leaders Arsenal to six points with last week’s win over Newcastle, and began the second stage of the Champions League with a 3-1 win in Basle.

Ferguson believes other teams have improved drastically while his Old Trafford side are not living up to their potential. ‘‘I think Arsenal and Liverpool have improved and I don’t think we are meeting our expectations at this moment in time,’’ he said on the club’s official website, www.manutd.com.

While United were dominating domestically during the 1990s, Liverpool and Arsenal were developing their own squads - and Ferguson indicated perhaps now is the time to look at rebuilding his own team.

‘‘I think Arsenal and Liverpool have built up very big squads. In particular Liverpool have built a strong and athletic squad. In the summer they bought four more players. I think since Gerrard came in they have bought something like 28 players in four years, so it emphasises the ambition and desire of Liverpool.

‘‘Of course, Arsenal too have built up a strong squad whereas, over the last four years say, we have only been adding one player at a time.’’

Meanwhile, Wes Brown is praying his injury nightmares are behind him so he can help United climb the Premiership table.

The 23-year-old defender suffered a broken ankle in the opening game of the season - a Champions League qualifier against Zalaegerszegi in Hungary. However, he gave an impressive show in midweek when the heat was on in Basle during the Champions League game which United won 3-1.

Brown’s re-emergence in defence could not have come at a better time with Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Laurent Blanc all sidelined.