Source: Team_Talk
United fledglings excite Ferguson
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is relishing watching his latest crop of young guns blaze a new trail at Old Trafford.[LNB] It was Alan Hansen who once famously remarked of Ferguson's 1995/96 side that "you never win anything with kids", only for United to claim the double that year.[LNB]The team beaten 3-1 by Aston Villa on the opening day 16 years ago that prompted Hansen's quote was, on average, a year older than the one that finished Sunday's 2-1 season-opening victory at West Brom.[LNB]With the likes of Gary Neville and Paul Scholes now retired, it is a sign of the times that youth is again at the forefront at United as Ferguson masterminds the latest rejuvenation of his squad.[LNB]"We were always aware we had players who were coming to the end of their careers. That has been on the horizon for us for quite a few years," said Ferguson.[LNB]"We knew it was going to happen, you don't want it to, but it does and there's nothing you can do about it. Age catches up with us all.[LNB]"So we've replaced the players who have left us, and we've still players at the club in their 30s, which is a lot of experience.[LNB]"At some point when the young players may hit a pocket there will be enough experience to augment the challenge we're after this year.[LNB]"It is a very young team at the moment, but it's one full of energy and of great ability, and I'm enjoying watching them."[LNB]It is likely there will be only one player over 30 in the starting line-up for Monday's visit of Spurs, with Patrice Evra returning at left-back after missing the game at The Hawthorns with an ankle injury.[LNB]With skipper Nemanja Vidic sidelined for up to five weeks with a calf injury and fellow centre-back Rio Ferdinand almost certainly out with a hamstring problem, youth will most evidently be on show in defence.[LNB]Aside from Evra, ahead of 20-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea, new signing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans, 19 and 23 respectively, line up at the heart, with 21-year-old Chris Smalling in at right-back.[LNB]"I'm not worried about the young players filling in at the back," added Ferguson.[LNB]"Evans has ample experience, of course, and has been at the club since he was 12. He's played plenty of first-team games.[LNB]"Jones has the experience of playing for Blackburn last season in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]"I thought he and Smalling were the stars for the England Under-21s in the summer, and Chris had a fantastic first season with us, and he's continued his progress this year.[LNB]"So I have absolutely no issues whatsoever with playing those guys."[LNB]Ferdinand's injury is not as bad as first feared, although Vidic will be out for longer than originally expected.[LNB]Ferdinand has not been definitively ruled out against Spurs, but it is more likely he will return for the match at home to Arsenal next weekend.[LNB]It means he will also be available for England's Euro 2012 double- header against Bulgaria and Wales next month, as well as the start of United's latest Champions League quest.[LNB]Darren Fletcher (virus), Javier Hernandez (concussion) and Antonio Valencia (ankle) are all closing in on a return, but are not yet ready, whilst Michael Owen is out with a back problem.
