TEAMtalk guest Tom McDermott urges Sir Alex Ferguson to sign a midfield general in January, or face the prospect of another trophyless season.

Manchester United arrived home from Transylvania on Wednesday following a second consecutive Champions League victory.

But while the three points are of no doubt a cause of much satisfaction, many United fans though are still scratching their heads in confusion at the club's inability to add a central midfielder to their squad over the summer.

Two defeats in the Premier League before the end of September would indicate that domestically improvements need to be made. And, with what is fast becoming an age-old problem amongst some United fans, the club went another transfer window without adding to the centre of midfield.

Is the title challenge in ruins already? Well not quite, but some supporters might just have a point.

A double from Robin van Persie in Cluj will tell you that United have no problem scoring goals. The club's failure to sign a mobile central midfielder, who possesses the ability to break the play up, as well as contribute in the attacking third, is what is driving some fans, quite frankly, mad.

So, with uncertainty over the club's financial situation, could the money spent on Robin van Persie have been used elsewhere?

Sir Alex Ferguson has regularly spoken about the "lack of value in the market."

At the weekend United will travel to Newcastle United where they will come up against a midfield which could include Check Tiote, a £3.5million signing from FC Twente in August 2010, and Yohan Cabaye, a £4million signing from Lille.

Either player, on the form they have shown since joining Newcastle, could fit into United's current midfield. Combine what both players cost the club and it comes to just £500,000 more than what United paid for Bebe. Lack of value in the market?

If you look around the Premier League, United's other domestic rivals are well stocked in the centre of midfield too.

Arsenal are packed full of mobile, athletic midfielders. Manchester City with much the same and more - Yaya Toure being the obvious example. Chelsea, Champions of Europe, added Oscar to build on their successful campaign and even North-West rivals Liverpool, with Steven Gerrard now into his 30s, opted for Nuri Sahin on loan and Joe Allen, to assist Gerrard's obvious strengths.

Back at Old Trafford, and I do have to stress that I still rate Paul Scholes a great player. A great player that is when United have possession. The trouble is when United don't have the ball. Scholes along with the rest of the midfield cast are too often easily bypassed. A problem highlighted by Moussa Dembele's last two trips to Old Trafford with Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur.

As we know, the window is currently shut until January and even then Sir Alex Ferguson is historically reluctant to spend money at that stage of the season.

In the meantime then it's quite simply a case of getting on with what you have, which unfortunately appears to be a mix of the inconsistent, injured and ageing.

Anderson hasn't been off the treatment table long and has struggled with form. Tom Cleverley is still young and is searching for more consistency to his game. Darren Fletcher has been a great loss but is evidently still coming to terms with his bowel condition. Michael Carrick has turned into Mr dependable, and is, well, Michael Carrick. Scholes and Ryan Giggs were dominating the midfield 10 years ago, but as we saw against Spurs at Old Trafford, can no longer play in the same midfield together. New signing Shinji Kagawa has been given a free role and is still getting used to his team-mates and vice versa.

This is not a new problem for United though and they have previously managed to find a solution.

Ji-Sung Park, for example, provided the legs alongside Carrick and Giggs/Scholes the last time United won the league. A league title which was won nearly 18 months ago. These players are now obviously older and Park has since moved on.

United are capable of dismantling the lower league sides by simply outscoring them (see Southampton away and Fulham at home) and maybe even the weaker teams on the Continent. This is bound to provide great entertainment and who knows maybe a few more famous Manchester United comebacks.

However, unless Ferguson finds the answer like he did a couple of years ago, or, dips into the transfer market in January, then United fans may have to get used to another trophy-free season at Old Trafford.