Ferguson: Young guns will not be hounded

ALEX FERGUSON has thrown a cloak of protection around his young players, insisting they will not be “hounded out” of Manchester United despite the Champions League catastrophe in midweek.

A major review is already under way at Old Trafford as they adapt to a post-Christmas expedition into the Europa League in the wake of Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat in Basel that could cost the club €23m.

Given United bounced back from a similarly disastrous situation, compounded by significant off-field turbulence, including the loss of main sponsor Vodafone, in 2005 by registering three straight Premier League title triumphs and enjoying one of their most prolific spells in Europe, few are willing to write Ferguson off just yet. However, former skipper Roy Keane has raised a familiar topic, namely the over-inflated reputations of young players. Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Nani, Ashley Young and David de Gea were all in Ferguson’s midweek starting line-up, with Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda introduced later on, all to no avail.