Fergie may sideline summer spending

MANCHESTER UNITED may have been held to a scoreless draw against Juventus at Old Trafford last night, but at least they were able to report a clean bill of health.

With players seemingly picking up injuries every match, manager Alex Ferguson is facing major problems ahead of the new campaign and may be forced to revise a feeling that he has no need to spend, despite the good news of Cristiano Ronaldo’s confirmed commitment.

Just by raising the possibility of not buying anyone before the deadline closes on August 31, Ferguson has brought an element of worry to United fans as they look ahead to the new campaign.

But Ferguson remains confident, even if some supporters are not.

“We might well start 2008-09 with largely the squad we had last season – and after all, they didn’t do too badly,” he said. “We have not brought in the kind of top-quality player everyone seems to be expecting.

“We are still researching and looking but it is not easy and certainly we are not desperate because we have the right balance of youth and experience thanks to the work we did in the transfer market the previous year. In terms of numbers, we have been boosted by the return from loan of several young players who have the potential to go all the way. So I think we already have the men for the job.”

Ferguson has been proved correct too often in the past to be seriously doubted now, but even he must have winced at the treatment meted out to Carlos Tevez.

Nicola Legrottaglie was especially forceful, with former Liverpool man Momo Sissoko equally tough in the tackle on one occasion, although each time Tevez got gingerly to his feet.

Tevez and Darren Fletcher had United’s best chances, without forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a decent save, and the same was also true of Alessandro del Piero at the other end.

Elsewhere, Arsenal’s youngsters took home the Herbert Chapman Trophy after two goals in the last 15 minutes gave them victory over Huddersfield at the Galpharm Stadium tonight.

The match was held to celebrate Huddersfield’s centenary, with the cup named after the legendary manager of both clubs in the 1920s and 30s. James Berrett gave the hosts the lead after 75 minutes. but Sanchez Watt quickly equalised and Nacer Barazite grabbed the winner three minutes from time.

Celtic finalised their Clydesdale Bank Premier League preparations with a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in their friendly encounter at Parkhead.

Martin Petrov’s 54th-minute strike gave City a deserved lead, before youngster Paul McGowan equalised with 10 minutes remaining with his first goal for the first team.

McGowan missed the chance to become the hero when he hit the bar from 10 yards out in the final seconds as Celtic pressed for the winner.

Newcastle had to settle for a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven at St James’ Park, despite scoring twice in the first 10 minutes.

Steven Taylor put the hosts ahead after only three minutes, heading in Geremi’s outswinging corner, and debutant Danny Guthrie made it two five minutes later from James Milner’s through ball.

Newcastle were pegged back on the half-hour mark as Ibrahim Afellay fired in after Shay Given parried a shot from Nordin Amrabat.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson prevented the Magpies from extending their lead, and it was Amrabat who drew PSV level 20 minutes from time with a snapshot from 12 yards.