Sir Alex Ferguson must sit down and decide over the next few days whether his squad is good enough to sustain a title challenge - or heed the advice of professional and amateur pundits alike and buy another striker.

While no-one, least of all someone as vastly experienced as Ferguson, will get too carried away by last night's defeat at Burnley, a few underlying issues have come to light in the past few days.

Not taking chances has been a familiar Ferguson complaint down the years, one that predates Cristiano Ronaldo's departure for Real Madrid.

And there was evidence of that at Turf Moor, with a couple of Michael Owen chances and a saved Michael Carrick penalty.

More worryingly, without Ronaldo and his two obvious replacements Nani and Antonio Valencia, who was only introduced after an hour of last night's contest when United were already in need of some inspiration, there appears to be a distinct lack of pace.

Of Ferguson's starting line-up, only Patrice Evra could be rated in the rapid category and it is true the Frenchman seems to have been asked to get forward more often.

But it is hardly an ideal situation, particularly as the Red Devils do not possess the physical strength of Chelsea who, Nicolas Anelka apart, have a similar problem.

With David Villa and David Silva still at cash-strapped Valencia, an offer for either man cannot be ruled out before the transfer window closes on September 1, although in the former case it would raise an obvious question over Wayne Rooney continuing in the central role he craves.

Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero would seem a less likely target now he has played for the Spanish outfit in last night's Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos, particularly as a price-tag of £50million would appear to be prohibitive for the relatively untested Argentina star.

Not that, publicly at least, Ferguson was giving off any cause for anxiety at Turf Moor last night.
"Not at this stage," he said.

"When you look at the chances we had, one or two should have been off the mark.

"Michael Owen missed a chance in the fist half, Ryan Giggs had a great chance, Wayne Rooney had a couple and Michael Carrick had the best chance when the ball was squared to him in the box but he took a touch and lost the opportunity."

It could also be pointed out that Carrick failed to convert a first-half penalty that would have drawn the Red Devils level and put a completely different complexion on the second period.

In addition, points dropped to the likes of Portsmouth, Reading and Newcastle at the start of recent campaigns have not prevented United from winning three titles on the trot, so it is hard to argue current troubles will prove terminal.

Nevertheless, Ferguson's side have dominated both their opening games, yet mustered just a single Rooney goal, leaving Ferguson's assistant Mike Phelan to state the obvious.

"We were disappointing in front of goal that is for sure," he told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We had a lot of possession but didn't really create anything.

"Their goalkeeper only made three saves in the entire game, which is not enough. We should have done a lot better and it is something we have to correct - and correct quickly."

Owen's contribution poses a peculiar conundrum.
In front of England coach Fabio Capello, Owen got into all the right positions. But, presented with two gilt-edged chances, he failed to make contact with the ball.

Is that evidence of a legendary striker's powers on the wane or just a missing touch that will easily be rectified.

As Owen is essentially third striker behind Rooney, who is taking on extra responsibility in Ronaldo's absence, and Dimitar Berbatov, who has still to prove he is worth the club record £30.75million spent on him 12 months ago, Ferguson must decide whether his gamble in signing the veteran striker needs to be backed up by a more concrete acquisition.

Not that much will change in the three days before United visit another of their local rivals, Wigan.

"At this club matches come every three days, there is nothing new on that score," said Phelan.

"We will analyse everything we need to but you can over analyse.

"Sometimes it is just about making sure the players do the correct things."