Paul McGuinness’ Manchester United hope to continue their FA Youth Cup run this evening, hosting Hull City at Old Trafford with costless-entry to all.
The Under-18’s saw off Bury in the third round – courtesy of Zach Dearnley’s 12th minute strike – and the club are once again offering fans costless entry to support the next era of ‘Busby Babes’ or ‘Fergie’s Fledging’s’.
We've had three schoolboys playing and three on the bench. That's unusual because they are being stretched all the time and are improving.
However, the Reds go into the game with a limited squad, as injured trio Demetri Mitchell, Ruairi Croskery and Jordan Thompson all remain on the sidelines.
The clash will be the youngsters' first match since their success in the Mercedes-Benz Junior Cup in Germany, but are expected to once again rely on schoolboys to fill the depths of the squad.
As a result, the likes of Dearnley and Callum Gribbin could make their way into the side once again, hoping to secure United’s 11th FA Youth Cup with a path to the final.
Under-18’s manager McGuinness commented on the use of the youngsters, many of whom will lack experience in such a prestigious tournament for the youth ranks. He said:
"We've had three schoolboys playing and three on the bench. That's unusual because they are being stretched all the time and are improving. They are a year ahead nearly so it's great for them.
You can only have three years because you cannot play in the Youth Cup when you're an Under-15 player.
"Ro-Shaun Williams has been playing in an Under-19 tournament when he's 16 and scored a fantastic goal while not looking out of place at all. They are coming on leaps and bounds, they really are. We just have to keep going.
"All of those lads can expect to get three goes at the FA Youth Cup, which is unusual now. My Dad did it and Sir Bobby Charlton while Danny Welbeck did that too but there haven't been that many in recent years. You can only have three years because you cannot play in the Youth Cup when you're an Under-15 player."
Manchester captain Axel Tuanzebe could make an awaited return to the squad having sat out of the trip to Germany, as a precaution over a knee tendon complication.
Should the Reds progress to the fifth round – where they would travel to Tottenham Hotspur or Wolverhampton Wanderers – Mitchell, Croskery and Thompson could all be a possibility for a return.
The fourth round of the FA Youth Cup will kick-off at 19:00.