Zimpapers Logo

LONDON. — Manchester United will go in search of their first English Premier League win under manager Louis van Gaal when they travel to Sunderland tomorrow.
If there was any doubt about the scale of the task facing the Dutchman, it was demonstrated by last weekend’s 2-1 opening day defeat at home to Swansea.Sunderland, who started the season with a 2-2 draw at West Brom, will fancy their chances at the Stadium of Light despite the fact United signed Argentina World Cup defender Marcos Rojo from Sporting Lisbon in midweek.

But with United having finished a lowly seventh in the table last season, former Old Trafford favourite Paul Scholes believes it will take more  than one big-name signing to revive their fortunes.

“The situation now has become ever more desperate for my former club,” ex-England midfielder Scholes  wrote in his column for the Independent newspaper.

“They have to sign some quality players. I am scared for United. Genuinely scared that they could go into the wilderness in the same way that Liverpool did in the 1990s.”

He added: “What do United need? Five players.

“Not five players with potential. Five experienced players . . .  for now.  Five proper players who can hit the ground running and turn around a situation that looks desperate.
“United’s forwards are as good as any team in the league. The problem is what comes behind them.”

Meanwhile, United’s Marouane Fellaini suffered suspected ankle ligament damage in training.

The Belgian, signed by sacked United manager

David Moyes following the pair’s time together at Everton, has still to score a competitive goal for United.

Fellaini has joined a lengthy injury list that includes Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw and Tom Cleverley, all of whom missed the Swansea defeat.

But star striker Robin van Persie is nearing full fitness and could feature against Sunderland. — AFP.