Fergie unlikely to buy in January

Ferguson has confirmed that Anderson has been sent back to Portugal amid fears of another major knee injury. The Brazilian has already battled back from cruciate ligament surgery, but has now been ruled out until at least February and is being assessed by his specialist to assess the precise nature of his latest injury. With Tom Cleverley also missing due to an ankle injury that Ferguson expects to sideline him until Christmas, it puts more pressure on a midfield many fans feel is already short on quality. In the wake of Paul Scholes' retirement last summer, Ferguson did make extensive efforts to bring in new faces. Luka Modric, Samir Nasri and Wesley Sneijder were all linked with Old Trafford moves that never materialised, and even now Ferguson seems more willing to utilise Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney in midfield rather than splash out on players he feels are below the standard he requires. "It is dead easy to say you are going to buy a player but it is not easy to buy players for Manchester United, particularly in January," Ferguson said. "We don't have a scattergun approach to signing anyone because we think it may work. We want to think it will work. There is a distinction. "I don't see anyone who could make us a better team from the ones who are possibly available. "I could choose two or three players who I would like to have at this club but they are not available. There would be no point even going there." There have been occasions in the past, notably with Henrik Larsson in 2007, when Ferguson has made a short-term signing to strengthen one area of his team. In this particular instance the only person who would fit that bill is Scholes himself, although there has never been any suggestion the 36-year-old could be talked out of retirement even if Ferguson felt it was a viable option. The United boss certainly made it plain he was not willing to abandon the club's long-term approach to transfers, no matter what short-term issues arise. "We have a great scouting department," he said. "They have proved it over the years. That is where we are in the sense of identifying and assessing footballers. "It is an ongoing process. Sometimes it takes two years to find someone." Ferguson is unlikely to openly admit any concerns about his personnel, while Michael Carrick in particular has performed well in the last two games and was arguably United's best player in the midweek draw with Benfica. However, Ferguson does concede the return of Cleverley would be pretty handy at the end of a typically arduous December period. "We are not as bad as people think," he added. "Ryan Giggs gives you experience. Michael Carrick had a bit of a problem with his Achilles in the early season but he is over that now and his form in the last two games has been outstanding. "Darren Fletcher, given the right preparation, is always a very good player for us. But getting Cleverley back at Christmas time would be a bonus because he is such a clever footballer." The return of Rooney from a hip problem and skipper Nemanja Vidic's availability after suspension offers Ferguson the additional options he needs for Saturday's encounter with Newcastle. Although they have a woeful record at Old Trafford, where they have not won for 39 years, Newcastle will be dangerous opponents. They caused Manchester City quite a few problems last weekend before eventually surrendering their unbeaten record and, in Alan Pardew, have a manager Ferguson rates extremely highly. "Everyone has been taken by Newcastle's start to the season and the credit must go to Alan Pardew," Ferguson added. "When he was at Reading we gave him Luke Chadwick on loan. He was first-class in terms of the information he was giving us. He is very meticulous. "He has grasped the nettle at Newcastle very well and they are all working like Trojans up there."