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Solskjaer not expecting to add to his Manchester United squad in January

By Eleanor Crooks, | 5d
Solskjaer will sit down with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to discuss the club's transfer plans.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not expecting any reinforcements to join his playing squad this month.

The interim Manchester United boss has made the perfect start to life back at Old Trafford by overseeing four successive Premier League wins, pulling the club to within six points of the top four.

He is planning to sit down with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to discuss the club's transfer plans for January, but said: "I'm happy with the squad I've got.

"I don't expect anyone to come in but, obviously, if the club have targeted and identified a few and I think they might fit here, I'll give my thumbs up, but it's not just my decision."

It is understood United do not see January as a good time to make key signings, and they are likely to have the same attitude to outgoings.

Asked how far away he sees United from Liverpool and Manchester City following their top-of-the-table clash on Thursday, Solskjaer replied: "Sixteen points isn't it?

"I think I have a good squad. We need to work on our cohesion and the way we play. That we get used to playing that way again, with pace, with power, with counter-attacks. We utilise what we have in that respect. But we know we are many points behind the top three."

The way Solskjaer wants United to play is essentially the way the side he starred in played under Sir Alex Ferguson.

And the Norwegian would consider success at the end of the season to be, not necessarily Champions League qualification or silverware, but if the two sides were being compared.

"Get to summer and people are talking about the way Manchester United are playing, the style we're playing, it reminds us of Sir Alex's team, it reminds us of the successful times," said Solskjaer.

"It has to start with the way we play because results you cannot control. You can control how you approach the game and how you play."

Solskjaer has won four games from four as interim boss with United scoring 14 goals in the process (Martin Rickett/PA)

Not that trophies are not on Solskjaer's radar and he will take his side into Saturday's third-round FA Cup clash with Reading aiming to go all the way.

Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Newcastle was the tightest match of Solskjaer's tenure so far, and the 45-year-old was pleased with the spirit he saw from his players.

"When you win games of football you're happy," he said. "There will be tougher times coming, there will be tougher games coming up, we know that. I thought Newcastle was a great example of us not just getting the first goal and sitting back to counter.

"We had to work for it and defend. At half-time, you think: 'We will learn about players in games like this.' We're expected to win but it doesn't always happen like you expect and hope. I thought the response was fantastic second half."

United's next Premier League match against Tottenham on January 13 will be a truer test of their form. Ahead of that trip, Solskjaer will take his players to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp – and he has warned them it will be no holiday.

"We can get fitter and we have to do that through the training sessions here, but Dubai is a good chance because now is the first time we get a week of work together," he added.

"I still have pictures in my mind every January the gaffer (Ferguson) with the stopwatch – all of those runs. That stood us in good stead towards the end of the season. So, even though we've got plenty of games, we need to work."



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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21173149103954
2Manchester CityMan City21162356173950
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs21160546212548
4Chelsea21135338162244
5Arsenal21125446311541
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21115543321138
7Leicester CityLeicester219482523231
8Watford218583031-129
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves218582325-229
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham218492932-328
11Everton217683131027
12Bournemouth2183103140-927
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton217592429-526
14Crystal Palace2164111926-722
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2146111529-1418
16Burnley2153132142-2118
17Cardiff CityCardiff2153131941-2218
18Southampton2137112138-1716
19Fulham2135131947-2814
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2124151337-2410
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21173149103954
2Manchester CityMan City21162356173950
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs21160546212548
4Chelsea21135338162244
5Arsenal21125446311541
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd21115543321138
7Leicester CityLeicester219482523231
8Watford218583031-129
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves218582325-229
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham218492932-328
11Everton217683131027
12Bournemouth2183103140-927
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton217592429-526
14Crystal Palace2164111926-722
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2146111529-1418
16Burnley2153132142-2118
17Cardiff CityCardiff2153131941-2218
18Southampton2137112138-1716
19Fulham2135131947-2814
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2124151337-2410
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