Midfielder Paul Pogba is set to make his full debut for Manchester United in Wednesday night's Carling Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace. Fellow youngsters Ezekiel Fryers, Ravel Morrison, Michael Keane and Ben Amos have all been involved in United's run to the last eight and will hope to be handed another chance to impress manager Alex Ferguson. United will also have plenty of first-team experience at their disposal, including Brazilian full-back Rafael who is in line to make his first appearance of the season after a shoulder injury.
Manager Dougie Freedman faces a selection quandary ahead of Crystal Palace's Carling Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford. The tie will be the first of two matches in the space of 48 hours for the London club, who host Derby in the Championship on Friday night. Freedman admits there is no way he can play the same side with the games so close together, and the Scot expects to fully utilise his squad. The likes of goalkeeper Lewis Price, defender David Wright, midfielders Jonathan Parr, Darren Ambrose and Kagisho Dikgacoi and strikers Jermaine Easter and Steffen Iversen are available for recalls."
MANAGER QUOTES
Alex Ferguson: "The youngsters have taken part in a lot of first-team training now. [Ravel] Morrison, [Paul] Pogba, [Larnell] Cole, [Jesse] Lingard and [Zeki] Fryers: we've stepped them up to our squad. They enjoy the challenge and it's an opportunity for us to see what they're like in these sessions, how they cope with the older players. It's how they handle the likes of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic if they give them a bit of stick... it's a good part of a young player's progress when they can be involved with the big boys."
Dougie Freedman: "I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a good game for us. It's an opportunity for the fans to enjoy themselves. They've stuck by us for the last three or four years, with administration and relegation. Now it's a chance for the fans to watch their team mix it with the best. Who would have thought we'd be playing Manchester United in the quarter-final of the Carling Cup?"