MANCHESTER United’s early-season goal-scoring problems resurfaced in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday that left the side with just two goals from its opening three Premier League games.

    The spotlight will inevitably fall on England center-forward Wayne Rooney, who has now gone 10 games without a goal for his club and was once again operating as the only striker in manager Louis van Gaal’s formation.

    United was solid in defense against Newcastle, not conceding for a third successive league game despite first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea not playing while a move to Real Madrid remains possible.

    The problem is the lack of cutting edge up front for the 20-time champions, who only edged their first two league games 1-0.

    Rooney, who had a goal disallowed for offside early, registered a shot on target for the first time this season but is still without a goal for United since April.

    Manager Louis van Gaal, though, maintains that United is not in need of attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes Sept. 1.

    “I am satisfied with the performance and not with the result — and that is different,” Van Gaal said. “We were unlucky with rewarding ourselves because we have created a lot of chances.”

    Newcastle remains without a win in the first three games under Steve McClaren, a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at United.

    Tottenham and Sunderland are also still searching for their first wins after draws Saturday.

    In a lively final 10 minutes at Leicester, Dele Alli headed Tottenham in front but it was quickly cancelled out by Riyad Mahrez, who preserved the hosts’ unbeaten start to the season. “We need to compete better to the end,” Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said. “I am angry and disappointed.”

    (SD-Agencies)