Fletcher: Youngsters will learn quickly here

Darren Fletcher believes one game for Manchester United is worth 10 a young player might get elsewhere as they continue their footballing education.

Alex Ferguson is set to keep faith with the youngsters defeated by Besiktas last week when Manchester United face Tottenham at Old Trafford tonight in the Carling Cup quarter-final.

It means teenage trio Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Rafael Da Silva will all be involved, as well as Darron Gibson and Gabriel Obertan, who have just 25 first-team appearances between them.

The quintet know they could get more regular action elsewhere but, as someone who has been in that position, Fletcher feels they will learn more by staying where they are.

“A first-team game for Manchester United can mean the equivalent of playing 10 or 20 anywhere else. It is that big,” said the Scotland skipper. “It is on so much of a higher scale.

“That was always echoed through the youth system and from my own experience I know it is true.”