Manchester United’s Woodward backed in transfer market

United were aware for some time that Pedro wanted to leave Barcelona after becoming frustrated by a lack of first-team football.

The collapse of the deal to sign Barcelona forward Pedro will make anxious United fans even more so, with the side looking devoid of ideas going forward, something many hoped the Spanish global would help to address. The Premier League is a very strong league. Rooney and Javier Hernandez, who has just returned from a season-long loan spell at Real Madrid, are van Gaal’s only two senior striking options. Any position Wayne Rooney plays, the club invests a great deal in the area.

Newcastle will be determined to win against United at Old Trafford tomorrow, but the Red Devils are in better form and will be favourites.

Van Gaal chopped and changed his side at the start of his United reign last season and had to wait four games for his first Premier League win.

“Kind of a waste of game when we need to learn about the players and what we can do and go about things”.

Manchester United had to come from behind to seal it. Michael Carrick’s own goal in the first half gave visitors Club Brugge the lead.

Newcastle’s record at Old Trafford will hardly boost morale in McClaren’s dressing room, having only recorded one win at the Theatre of Dreams in the Premier League era. Manchester United eventually had the last laugh though, as they pipped Newcastle to the title later that season.

Manchester United head coach Louis van Gaal said on Friday he had total confidence in executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to deliver the goods for the club in the transfer market. Phil Jones (mild thrombosis) remains sidelined, whilst there are still doubts about the match fitness of fellow centre back Marcos Rojo.

Newcastle have picked up just a point in their opening two matches, holding Southampton to a draw at home before the 2-0 defeat away to Swansea City.

After a busy summer of wheeling and dealing, Woodward secured the signings of Matteo Darmian, Memphis Depay, Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger – the World Cup winning German who could make his first start at the weekend.