Young Strikers Thrill Sir Alex

United are spoilt for choice when it comes to young strikers. Sir Alex Ferguson blooded another of his promising attacking talents, Joshua King, against Wolves on Wednesday and the Norwegian teenager showed flashes of his undoubted potential.

Sir Alex had given starts to Federico Macheda and eventual match-winner Danny Welbeck, both already earmarked to make the grade. But a cameo appearance for 17-year-old King hints at an even greater wealth of talent bubbling under the surface.

“He’s very quick the boy, he’s got a terrific attitude and he’s only 17,” said the boss. “He has a really good future in the game.

“We’re very fortunate at the moment; we’ve got Macheda, Welbeck, King and young John Cofie, who is in our youth team. It’s looking really good for young strikers, and it’s been a long, long time since we’ve had so many strikers coming through at the club.”

Like last year, winning the Carling Cup is a definite target, but it’s also vital as a finishing school for Sir Alex’s up-and-coming starlets.

“It’s a good tournament for young players,” he told MUTV. “They must have this challenge, the experience of playing at Old Trafford in front of 50,000 fans. It was a good crowd for a Wednesday night in the first round of the League Cup.”

The Carling Cup doesn't just benefit the products of United’s youth system who are still at the club, ask Sir Alex was proud to point out: “I was watching the matches on Tuesday night, and quite a few of our former players scored. Chris Eagles, Danny Webber, Jon Macken, Fraizer Campbell - that was really good to see.”