FERGIE'S WINTER WARMER

Last updated : 27 September 2002 By Editor

"We started without Gary Neville, Fabien Barthez and Rio Ferdinand then had Wes Brown injured in the first game.

"Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were ruled out as they had surgery but I think we have done the right thing as far as that is concerned.

Ferguson believes that United can make up lost ground in the Premiership once he gets the squad back to full strength.

"We hope by December we can dig in and keep in the frame and have players coming back - we'll have Quinton Fortune and Gary Neville back soon. It is not as black as it could have been," added Ferguson.