Sam Allardyce believes Sunderland need experience, not youth, in order to aid them in their relegation battle.
Tonight, against Liverpool, there are suggestions that Tom Beadling is in with a chance of being included in the matchday squad, and even in contention to start alongside Sebastian Coates in defence, with Wes Brown the only other option after injuries to Younes Kaboul and John O'Shea.
However, despite giving Duncan Watmore his fair share of chances this season and seeing the England under-21 international take them, Allardyce does not believe that promoting youth team players is the answer to the Black Cats' problems.
Lessons learned?
The manager's reluctance to integrate the youngsters perhaps stems from a bad experience in doing so nearly two years ago.
Whilst in charge at West Ham United, he made nine changes in an FA Cup third round tie with Championship side Nottingham Forest, giving several young players a chance as the first team prepared for a League Cup semi-final with Manchester City - which was just four days away.
The gamble didn't pay off, with the Hammers being thrashed 5-0 on the night, and Allardyce admitted to Chronicle Live that he got "slaughtered" for his decisions.
"That was to protect the [first] team," he said, but even then, they lost to Man City later in the week, which only added more fuel to the fire that was reigning down on the manager from the fans and the media.
After that, Allardyce realised that a manager will come in for criticism, "whatever [they] do."
"You can play the under-21s and get slaughtered for it," he explained, "and then down the line they say 'why don't you play the under-21s?'"
Youth can play if they are good enough - but experience is key
This is not to say Big Sam isn't giving the young players their chances. Watmore's breakthrough has come under the former Newcastle United boss, whilst Beadling should be included in tonight's matchday squad too.
"If a youngster is good enough," both "physically and mentally," then Allardyce has no problem "throw[ing] him in and see[ing] how he does."
For example, Watmore "is making strides in the right direction," even if he isn't "really ready to start yet," whilst there are "one or two more that are training with [the first team]" who the manager concedes they "may need to use" at some point.
However, "generally," it is "experience" that Allardyce is looking for and experience that Sunderland "need" given "the position [they] are in."