Van der Sar stiffens Ferguson's sense of purpose

Since that 1999 Champions' League triumph, Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Fabien Barthez, Roy Carroll, Ricardo and Tim Howard are among those who have, with various idiosyncrasies and over widely contrasting time-spans, first enthused Sir Alex Ferguson, only finally to exasperate him.

Finally, the acquisition of a dominant Dutchman, Edwin van der Sar, a character in the mould of the great Dane, has instilled in the rearguard a renewal of self-belief. Not that the 6ft 5in goalkeeper is impervious to error. Fulham, from whom he was signed, will attest to that. But then neither was Schmeichel.

What both possess is authority. The goalkeeper's art does not purely concern shot-stopping. That comes as a given. As crucial is the sense of security he imbues in his defenders, his reading of a game, and a composed temperament - one quality that was always liable, for instance, to fail Barthez.

United have scored nine goals in four competitive games this season; more pertinently, following the 3-0 victory over the Hungarian side Debrecen on Wednesday (6-0 on aggregate) none have been conceded; early vindication for the manager's judgement. "We know it won't last," Sir Alex Ferguson said of those lock-outs. "The important thing is to keep it going for as long as we can, and there is a good resolve about the team.

"You saw that on Wednesday when Van der Sar sprinted out of goal to give a player a rollicking. It was good to see that, because what he was saying to that young player was, 'Look, I've not come here to lose. I'm a winner. I'm 34 years of age, I've been in the European Cup final, and I've got 95 caps [he has actually just reached 100]'."

The Scot added: "That is why he is here. I think it was good to see that. I am not saying it is going to keep the door bolted all the time, but it certainly had an impact."

Van der Sar has contributed to United, as Ferguson is fond of putting it this season, "hitting the ground running" - in comparison to last year, when his team's tardy start allowed their rivals to assert themselves. "After last season's experience we had to [approach things differently], " he said. "A year ago last Tuesday, we had 11 players injured. Eleven players, and that was just the start of the season. This season, with the preparation we have given the players, we are far healthier."

Crucially, those players absent last year included Van der Sar's compatriot Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose goals have begun to flow once more - contrary to the expectation of many sceptics after his indifferent pre-season.

"Ruud's enjoying his football and he is fit, and that is the difference, " Ferguson said after training on Friday. "He wasn't 100 per cent last year, and we recognise that it was our fault [bringing him back too early to play against Milan in the Champions' League], but he is looking great. You always worry about how injury impacts on any player. But he is fit, fresh and looking good."

Van Nistelrooy, by nature a penalty-box player, has also been electing to take more free-kicks and shoot from distance. Is that something he had been working on? "No," insisted Ferguson. "It's just in practice sessions all the players want to have a go at free-kicks, and he wanted a go, and did well with them, and there is nothing wrong with that."

Would that today's opponents, Graeme Souness's Newcastle United, could achieve such potency in front of goal. They prepare for their third Premiership game with their "goals for" tally still on zero. Considering that United have won on their last three visits to St James' Park, that bodes ill for Souness in August, the witching month in which his predecessors have come to fear the chairman's call.

For the moment, though, Souness appears to retain the faith of Freddy Shepherd as the pair have attempted to enlist striking talent. Though Michael Owen appears now to be on the way to Liverpool - frankly, do you really want a player who admits that he is playing for your club in the absence of anything better? - but has at least secured the £9.6 million Spanish international striker Albert Luque from Deportivo La Coruña.

You cannot escape the suspicion that Newcastle have been the bait on the hook, which has, with a degree of brinkmanship, resulted in Liverpool preparing to reel in Owen, albeit that the former Anfield man was quite content to be the quarry.

Never mind their hosts' early results. Ferguson is aware that the atmosphere today will be fervent. "There is an expectation there similar to ourselves and similar to Arsenal and Liverpool," he says. "They expect to win everything. It's a highly emotionally charged game at Newcastle, their fans are always up for it and it's a venue where you say to yourself, 'If we win there, it's a good one'. Luque coming in will also give the crowd a wee lift."

No greater stage for United's new keeper to show he can be Edwin Star.