Ahead of Wednesday night’s League Cup game against Crystal Palace, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that we will be playing a young side like usual.

Palace are currently 10th in the Championship and managed to beat Southampton, who are top of the table, in the competition last month.

Ferguson is putting his faith in youth though and singles out Paul Pogba as a player who might start. Pogba has played for 45 minutes against Leeds and 30 minutes against Aldershot so far this season. The manager doesn’t name Ravel Morrison as a potential starter, although you’d like to think he would get some time on the park on Wednesday.

“There will be complete changes,” said Ferguson. “Chris Smalling has come back and I may be able to play him. He’s still young and it’ll be a young squad against Palace. The only area where I’ve got problems is centre midfield. It’s possible I could play Pogba in there but we’ll wait and see. I’ve got enough players to choose from, that’s for sure.”

The League Cup win in 2006 has been seen by some as the catalyst for the success that has followed, after the press had written United off as in decline the year before. The trophy has also been a great way for us to bring young players in to the team, which Ferguson believes makes it an important tournament.

“I think the League Cup has turned into quite a good tournament,” he added. “Clubs like United are able to introduce young players and ones who have not been playing regularly in the first team, and it’s been good to us over the years. We’ve won two finals at Wembley with young players, which is good going, and I think it’s become an important tournament for us in terms of getting the youngsters an introduction into winning and having an understanding of the progress they’re making.”




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