Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is eager to keep playing the kids.
Last season, of all academy players to impress in his training sessions, manager Ralph Hasenhuttl gave only 17-year-old Thierry Small any minutes – in the FA Cup versus Coventry City.
The Austrian, following Tuesday's 3-0 EFL Cup win over Cambridge United, has already given three Saints youngsters their first-team debuts.
Hasenhuttl's trust was rewarded with a universally-lifting debut goal for high-potential Dom Ballard, and a promising 75 minutes from the start for defender Lewis Payne.
Saints prepare for the league match with Manchester United knowing their team will be youthful still, but these youngsters will not be the ones fresh from Staplewood.
“This is the reason why they want to play in the Premier League, because of the games coming up," Hasenhuttl said, looking ahead to back-to-back home encounters with Manchester United and Chelsea.
“Showing them how good they are against this team, and as I said at the beginning we and especially the young players want to show themselves how good they are.
“This is the kind of mindset you have to have, and it is a good basic fundament for stepping in as a young player in such a game."
He continued: “Showing up, willing to show how good you are not only on the ball but for all the other habits you have to deliver. A serious performance with discipline, a lot of passion in the right moments and also then you can put the cherry on top with your ability on the ball, your passing.
“This comes on top of the basic fundaments that must be there. Everyone who comes here knows this and it makes it easy for them to come on the pitch."
Hasenhuttl also said: “The thing is for these guys coming up from the academy, they know how to work hard and have the same philosophy we have in the first-team.
“They know immediately the intense way of playing football, when you come up here you are on the front-foot pressing, this is the reason why we put in this playbook years ago, for this situation.
“We have always said it's easier for them to come in because there is no stress, no nerves and they know exactly what to do.
“This is the way we want to go and it would make it worth the time and energy everyone in the club has put in."