Schuster Demands A Number Nine

According to reports from Madrid, Bernd Schuster has asked Pedja Mijatovic for another striker in order to sort out the lack of goals.

Real Madrid's lack of effectiveness up front has been glaringly obvious throughout the pre-season.

Barring a superb second half display that saw them score five against Lokomotiv Moscow, there has been pretty much nothing in terms of creative football.

The three goals against Sevilla have not fooled fans, and certainly not the critics - two of them were scored by Cannavaro and Sergio Ramos from deal ball situations, and the third was a long range effort from Royston Drenthe.

None of that has detracted from the fact that bite in the attack has been conspicuous by its absence!

Madrid based daily AS have provided the inside scoop, revealing that Schuster has told Pedja Mijatovic very clearly that he needs a new number nine.

Mijatovic is just as concerned about his plans for the season possibly going awry, particularly with doctors advising that Ruud van Nistelrooy - who has just returned from injury, and who rescued Real Madrid last season - not be given more than 30-35 of the 60 games Real Madrid could have to play.

AS further reveal that the two names at the top of Mijatovic's pile are those of Real Zaragoza's Diego Milito and Ajax's Klaas Jan Huntelaar, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic considered mission impossible!