Manchester United holding out for a hero

Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 0: Louis van Gaal may ignore the mounting evidence to the contrary and insist there is no dire need to add to his body of strikers before the summer transfer window closes at the end of the month but when the answer to the Manchester United manager’s problems is “Marouane Fellaini,” then the Dutchman is clearly asking the wrong question.

A goalless draw with Newcastle left United with just two goals to show from their opening three Premier League games and means Tottenham defender Kyle Walker is joint-top of the club’s goalscoring table (following his own goal when the sides met two weeks ago), along with Adnan Januzaj, on one goal each.

Given that Wayne Rooney has now gone 10 games without a goal, a run stretching back to the first weekend in April, it could be argued that a summer transfer window that opened so brightly with swift and impressive signings to address problems at right-back and midfield is now in danger of becoming a disaster.