Sir Alex Ferguson is confident that his Manchester United squad is good enough to retain the Premier League title even without a new striker.United opened their Premier League title defence in disappointing fashion at Old Trafford on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle.

With Carlos Tevez back home in Argentina following a family bereavement and Wayne Rooney some way short of full fitness, the Red Devils lacked a killer touch up front.

Injuries to Ryan Giggs and Michael Carrick hardly helped and with a massive list of absentees to contend with already, the result seemed to back up Ferguson's previously stated theory that he needs another forward.

But while attempts to sign Dimitar Berbatov will continue this week, the United boss insists he would be happy sticking with what he has.

"If a new signing happens it happens," Ferguson told Key 103.

"The squad we had last season is good enough.

"Carlos Tevez will be back for the Portsmouth game next week. Anderson is due back from the Olympics by the time we play Liverpool and Chelsea and Wayne Rooney will be more effective for playing 90 minutes against Newcastle. If we have to go with what we have, we will do."

Ferguson seemed quite relaxed about the situation, even though United have already slipped a couple of points behind their main title rivals with just one match of the season gone.

Not that there is any major reason for concern, other than the fact United's Super Cup commitment in Monaco at the end of the month means they now face three successive away games, starting at Portsmouth next week before those crunch trips to Liverpool and Chelsea after the first international break.

"We have been handicapped by the fixture list but there are 37 games to go, so we have plenty of time," said Ferguson, whose team picked up only two points from their opening three games last season and still successfully defended their crown.

Ferguson will need to look at a replay of Martins' goal to know who was to blame.

Edwin van der Sar might have done better with James Milner's corner - but equally Martins was unmarked as he powered the ball home.

"I did not expect to lose a goal at a set-piece to a header from a guy who is 5ft 8in," said the United boss.

"Once we got the equaliser, I thought we would kick on. But while we were the better team, they were always a threat on the counter-attack - and we have to take into account the personnel we have missing."

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