Fergie anticipating Berbatov and Owen goal spree

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen to answer the critics and re-discover their goal scoring form as Manchester United battle to overcome an indifferent start to the new campaign.

United fell to a surprise midweek defeat at Burnley, meaning that the opening two matches, against promoted Birmingham and Burnley, had seen them score just one goal.

Observers have naturally noted that Cristiano Ronaldo, and his prodigious goal scoring talents, have not been directly replaced by Ferguson this summer and that Owen, whose own career was hardly at its peak following an injury-plagued spell with relegated Newcastle, was the only significant addition to the attacking corps.

Bulgarian Berbatov also has much to prove after scoring just nine times in 33 Premier League games last season following his 30.75 million pound transfer from Tottenham.

But Ferguson has confirmed that he will not be adding to his current squad in the ten days that remain in the transfer window and that he has faith in Owen and Berbatov finally discovering the kind of form to match their reputations.

“Dimitar would like to score a goal, strikers are like that,” said Ferguson.

“He is no different from Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney. Strikers always feel as if scoring is the most important thing.

“Michael is exactly the same as Dimitar, he could do with a goal. He had two (chances) on Wednesday and should have scored both of them. He knows that. He was unlucky and he will be wanting that goal.

“There’s no question about it that his movement and positional play in the last third is very, very good. We are just waiting on that goal that will set him off. I am sure about that.”

Owen, 29, is also facing an uphill battle to force his way back into Fabio Capello’s England squad head of next summer’s World Cup Finals in South Africa, although Ferguson does not want his new striker focusing on international goals.

“Forget the England thing at the moment,” said Ferguson. “Whatever he does with us will be the road for him (to England). If he does well with us, then England will be there for him.'”

Ferguson has downplayed the significance of the midweek defeat at Burnley, pointing to the fact that his side are traditionally slow starters in a Premier League campaign.

However, having seen United win last season’s title with 90 points and Liverpool finish second despite suffering just two defeats, the veteran manager accepts there is not much scope for the defending champions to lose more games.

“That’s been the way this league has been for the past few years,” said Ferguson. “There’s not much leeway.

“Last season we had a points total of 90 and that is about average in this particular league. Even though we say it is the most competitive league, you still have to think about 90 (points) as the winner.

“Liverpool’s 86, when they were second last year, was an exceptional total, too. Every season we keep saying it is tighter and harder, but none the less you have to think about that 90-point total and I don’t think it will change this year.”