Solskjaer not expecting to add to his Manchester United squad in January

"I don't expect anyone to come in but, obviously, if the club have targeted and identified a few and I think they might fit here, I'll give my thumbs up, but it's not just my decision."

It is understood United do not see January as a good time to make key signings, and they are likely to have the same attitude to outgoings.

Asked how far away he sees United from Liverpool and Manchester City following their top-of-the-table clash on Thursday, Solskjaer replied: "Sixteen points isn't it?

"I think I have a good squad. We need to work on our cohesion and the way we play. That we get used to playing that way again, with pace, with power, with counter-attacks. We utilise what we have in that respect. But we know we are many points behind the top three."

The way Solskjaer wants United to play is essentially the way the side he starred in played under Sir Alex Ferguson.

And the Norwegian would consider success at the end of the season to be, not necessarily Champions League qualification or silverware, but if the two sides were being compared.

"Get to summer and people are talking about the way Manchester United are playing, the style we're playing, it reminds us of Sir Alex's team, it reminds us of the successful times," said Solskjaer.

"It has to start with the way we play because results you cannot control. You can control how you approach the game and how you play."

Not that trophies are not on Solskjaer's radar and he will take his side into Saturday's third-round FA Cup clash with Reading aiming to go all the way.

Wednesday's 2-0 victory over Newcastle was the tightest match of Solskjaer's tenure so far, and the 45-year-old was pleased with the spirit he saw from his players.

"When you win games of football you're happy," he said. "There will be tougher times coming, there will be tougher games coming up, we know that. I thought Newcastle was a great example of us not just getting the first goal and sitting back to counter.

"We had to work for it and defend. At half-time, you think: 'We will learn about players in games like this.' We're expected to win but it doesn't always happen like you expect and hope. I thought the response was fantastic second half."

United's next Premier League match against Tottenham on January 13 will be a truer test of their form. Ahead of that trip, Solskjaer will take his players to Dubai for a warm-weather training camp – and he has warned them it will be no holiday.

"We can get fitter and we have to do that through the training sessions here, but Dubai is a good chance because now is the first time we get a week of work together," he added.

"I still have pictures in my mind every January the gaffer (Ferguson) with the stopwatch – all of those runs. That stood us in good stead towards the end of the season. So, even though we've got plenty of games, we need to work."

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