O'SHEA BACKS FERGIE IN MARKET

Ferguson - looking to strengthen.

John O'Shea would not be surprised if Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a big transfer up his sleeve ahead of the Premier League kick-off against Newcastle next week.

United will be short of seven senior players for Sunday's Community Shield showdown with Portsmouth at Wembley, with Nani, Michael Carrick and skipper Gary Neville set to play despite being short of full fitness.

After claiming earlier this week he might start the season with his present squad, Ferguson revealed on Friday he was still chasing three or four targets.

And O'Shea feels it would be completely in United's character to strengthen as they begin the defence of domestic and European silverware.

"We need to keep improving again. That is the way this club is," said O'Shea.

"Whether big names come or go it is about Manchester United moving on. That will always be the case.

"It wasn't bad winning the double but if we don't keep winning, the manager will definitely change things.

"I am sure he will have a few ideas in mind anyway. The deadline is a few weeks away yet so we might have a new face or two."

Dimitar Berbatov, David Villa, Karim Benzema and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford, deals that would probably signal the end of injury-plagued Louis Saha's spell at the club.

The revolving door is something O'Shea has become used to, so much so that a few well-placed jokes were waiting for Cristiano Ronaldo when the Portugal winger returned to United's Carrington training base on Friday.

Though no doubt pleased that Ronaldo has committed himself to United after a summer spent agitating for a move to Real Madrid, his team-mates were not prepared to spare him their mirth.

"No-one has a problem with Cristiano," said O'Shea.

"But people know what a football dressing room is like so we had a few little surprises for him."

It has been well documented this week that Ferguson's own summer visit to see Ronaldo in his homeland was a major factor in his decision to stay with United for another year at least.

Yet such attention to detail hardly comes as a surprise to O'Shea who knows if Ferguson does sign someone this week the background work will have been extensive.

"The manager only wants a certain type of player," said the Republic of Ireland international.

"It is not just about footballing ability. When you are spending such large sums of money, you have to get everything right.

"It is about the personality and how they fit into the club. He wants to be sure they will not upset things. More often than not he gets it spot on."

For now, Ferguson is left juggling numbers, balancing the need to get senior players fit with the chance to give some younger players a taste of the big occasion.

The Community Shield may not hold quite the lure of a Champions League final but Brazilian trio Rafael Da Silva, brother Fabio and Rodrigo Possebon should all receive the thrill of a place on the bench even if they do not actually get on the pitch for the start itself.

Carlos Tevez may start alone up front. If not, Ryan Giggs will supply support with Patrice Evra shunted into a left-wing berth, allowing Ferguson to make use of the number of defenders he has available.

Not that Portsmouth are in any better shape.

A fortnight after the last meeting between the pair, the first of a month-long trilogy that ends at Fratton Park on August 25, the Premier League expansionists should note it seems both clubs are feeling the effects of their stay in Nigeria.

"It will be interesting to see if they have a team," said O'Shea. "Apparently half their players were on the toilet for a week.

"When we came back we still had to take malaria tablets for five or six days. I hope they all did."