Manchester United will not panic buy in January insists Ferguson

Fletcher has joined Vidic on the sidelines in what is becoming an increasing long injury list (GETTY IMAGES)

Sir Alex Ferguson will only make a move in the January transfer window if a long-term target becomes available.

The Manchester United manager has seen his squad stretched in recent weeks, with Darren Fletcher taking an extended break from the game with ulcerative colitis, Nemanja Vidic ruled out for the season, Anderson battling a long-term knee problem and Javier Hernandez and Tom Cleverly also sidelined.

Many pundits expect reinforcements next month, but Ferguson has vowed not to panic buy.

Asked if there would be new arrivals in January, he said: "Not neccessarily. I don't know why people keep going on about it.

"(I won't buy) unless someone appears we have always been interested in appears, but there isn't."

Ferguson also explained the decision to make public the details of Fletcher's illness, after previously passing his absence off on a virus.

"That was the big decision," he said.

"It got to the point where we had to address it in a different way. We spoke about a virus to protect Darren but it got to the point people were delving. It was getting uncomfortable so we decided to make it public.

"He has been in hospital for a few days."

Ferguson also revealed that striker Dimitar Berbatov was fit after ankle trouble and reserve team midfielder Paul Pogba was in consideration for Sunday's trip to QPR.

PA