Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with the way his youngsters have responded to the rigours of first team football this term.

In his programme notes for yesterday's victory over Blackburn, Ferguson said: "We agreed that the way forward with our youngsters was that as soon as we had identified they had the quality and temperament to become first-team players, then we would bring them into the squad and let them train with the seniors.

"This has made a huge difference to their readiness for the big time, and they are able to make the most of a first-team chance as and when it comes along. This policy has made our training sessions quite hectic and crowded at times, but we have the coaching staff to cope, and it has enabled our young players to step up with more confidence than if they were coming straight out of the Reserves and into the first team.

"It's important that the lads feel they are progressing, and you have to challenge their ambition rather than let them linger so long at Reserve level that it becomes too much of a comfort zone for them. Training with the senior players is an invaluable stepping stone, and one of the reasons why I felt confident about giving the youngsters their chance in the two domestic cup competitions.

"Of course, when you pick lads and come a cropper, there will be some people who will point a finger and criticise you for fielding a weakened team, but you don't win every match whatever the strength of your side. We lost at Derby in the first leg of our Carling Cup semi-final, and I am sure some of our critics felt that with a Wembley final just one step away, I should have played all the big guns.

"But I didn't have any regrets, because I knew that, long term, the lads wouldn't let me down, and that I was pursuing the right policy. They came good in the second leg, and to underline their worth they went back to Pride Park last week and gave a display of quality football which kept our fans cheering all night. I shall stay with these boys in the cups, and they can expect to be involved at Wembley against Spurs in the Carling Cup final."

He added: "There are more good youngsters coming through, too, like Federico Macheda and Davide Petrucci, both from Rome, plus local lads Matthew James and Richard Eckersley."