OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to rise to the challenge as he enters probably his final season as a United player.

The 34-year-old Norwegian star is refusing to rule out the possibility of another year at Old Trafford when his contract expires next summer.

And he is intent on proving he is capable of prolonging a brilliant career.

That could mean a possible testimonial match being ditched at the end of the season, as it is believed Solskjaer would only want such a game as a farewell.

But as the Reds prepare for Sunday's first clash of the season against Reading, the £1.5m buy from Molde says he is ready to take on all-comers.

Strangely, the summer's comings and goings have made his path to the first team a little clearer, with Alan Smith and Giuseppe Rossi both leaving and only Carlos Tevez coming in to the striker department.

And after bagging a valuable 11 goals in 12 starts and 16 sub appearances last season, Solskjaer has proved there is plenty of worth left in him, despite having four years of injury hell.

"This season the gaffer has bought in young players, probably to challenge the older ones as well because you can't live off your past glory at this club," said Solskjaer.

Trust

"He showed tremendous trust in the players we had last season. We hadn't won the league for three years and he only signed one player, Michael Carrick.

"That's a big sign of trust and he was right, we won the league."

But Solskjaer feels that the old guard at Old Trafford may still have the biggest role to play as new boys Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson are allowed time to bed in to their new surroundings.

"The young players are going to need time to settle in England," said Solskjaer.

He went a long way towards disproving that accepted wisdom by scoring on his debut against Blackburn in August 1996 and then netting 15 times in 33 games in a first season which made him a firm favourite with the fans.

"But the way we've nurtured Wayne and Cristiano, who came to the club as really young, talented players, is down to the gaffer - he's made them into top world players.

"That's what you get at Manchester United, you get the challenge every day in training. They have to have that desire to improve all the time."

Solskjaer is still missing with a knee injury, and the four new boys are not likely to figure other than from the substitutes' bench at Old Trafford on Sunday.

How many games and goals do you expect Solskjaer to get this season? Have your say.