Fergie hands young keeper debut against Stoke

Twenty-one-year-old goalkeeper Ben Amos was handed his Premier League debut by Manchester United tonight as both Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea were ruled out of the Old Trafford encounter with Stoke.

It has been reported that Lindegaard suffered an ankle injury in training yesterday, while De Gea was forced to return home after complaining of feeling ill.

Amos spent the second half of last season on loan at League One Oldham and has made six senior appearances for United, all but one of which have come in the Carling Cup.

But, with the only alternative being Tomasz Kuszczak, who has fallen completely out of favour, Amos was entrusted with the goalkeeping responsibilities in a side that was still without Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones. Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez were paired together up front.

Stoke, looking for their first away win over United since 1976, made five changes following the defeat by West Brom on their last league outing, with Kenwyne Jones recalled to add even more height to their attack.

Man Utd: Amos, Smalling, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Park, Berbatov, Hernandez.

Subs: Kuszczak, Giggs, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Rafael Da Silva, Pogba, Will Keane.

Stoke: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Whitehead, Walters, Jones, Crouch.

Subs: Begovic, Whelan, Fuller, Delap, Etherington, Jerome, Woodgate.

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)