Stern test for Man City youngster

Dedryck Boyata is the surprise name in the Manchester City starting line-up tonight for their first domestic semi-final since 1981, a Carling Cup showdown with Manchester United.

The 19-year-old defender only made his senior debut at Middlesbrough earlier this month but manager Roberto Mancini has entrusted him with a central defensive berth alongside Micah Richards, allowing Vincent Kompany to move up into a three-man midfield.

There is no Robinho, but Carlos Tevez did go head-to-head with his old club who, contrary to Alex Ferguson’s claim, have not packed their side with youngsters.

Rafael Da Silva is included, but then so too is 36-year-old Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar, who is three years the Welshman’s senior.

Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Garrido, De Jong, Kompany, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy.

Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Ireland, Robinho, Sylvinho, Petrov, Mwaruwari.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney, Giggs.

Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Owen, Park, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Diouf.

Referee: Mike Dean.