With Luis Antonio Valencia signed from Wigan Athletic, and Zoran Tosic, who joined from Partizan Belgrade in January, United have options in wide areas.

Their most striking signing of a relatively quiet summer, though, was Michael Owen, picked up on a free transfer from Newcastle United following their relegation.

He was used as a substitute on Sunday, and that seems likely to be his position for most of the season, at least in bigger games.

There have been major doubts about Owen after a series of injuries robbed him of his pace - he has, for instance, barely featured for Fabio Capello's England - but manager Alex Ferguson is certain the 29-year-old still has much to offer.

'Michael is a world-class forward with a proven goal-scoring record at the highest level and that has never been in question,' he said.

That again suggests the use of a more traditional 4-4-2, for Owen needs service, whether from a target-man partner, as Berbatov could be, or from somebody sitting deeper, sliding through passes, something both Berbatov and Rooney can do.

What that means, though, is a turn away from the 4-3-3 that has been United's preferred formation in major European games for the past few seasons.

The loss of Nani with a dislocated shoulder in the Community Shield will be a blow to United in the early weeks of the season, but United - even without Ronaldo and Tevez - still have probably the strongest squad in the division.

And with Liverpool, who finished just four points adrift last season, losing Xabi Alonso, while Chelsea's new manager Carlo Ancelotti gets used to the Premier League, United look well placed to add an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League success.