This is what it means to blood youths.
I'm here to stay! Welbeck not prepared to step aside for Hernandez and co
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:15 PM on 23rd August 2011
Danny Welbeck has vowed to fight for his place after inspiring Manchester United to victory over Tottenham.
The striker, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, scored the opening goal and set up the second for Anderson with a delightful backheel before Wayne Rooney sealed a 3-0 win.
High hopes: Danny Welbeck (left) heads home Man United's opener against Spurs
And he has warned Javier Hernandez, Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen that he will not be easily dislodged from the starting line-up at Old Trafford.
Welbeck said: ‘The gaffer has built a great squad with youth and experience in abundance.
‘You know that once you’re in that starting eleven, you’ve got to work hard to keep your place. So I think everyone’s working hard in training and doing their best to get in the starting eleven.
Here to stay: Welbeck has vowed to fight for his place in the starting XI
‘Whoever’s chosen is going to give it their best shot. I think Tom and I have shown we’ll work hard for the team when picked.’
Both Welbeck and Tom Cleverley were part of the line-up that was the second youngest United XI - with an average age of 23 years and one month - in Premier League history.
He added: ‘We’ve both been at the academy for years and years – about 10 years – so to both come into the Manchester United first team is a massive achievement.
Boxing Clever: Welbeck has come through Man United's academy with Tom Cleverley (right)
‘We’re so grateful to all the coaches we’ve had throughout the youth system and we’ll never forget them. We’ll always be grateful to them.’
Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to praise Welbeck, particularly after the youngster overcame knee problems during his emergence.
The United boss said: ‘Danny made slow progress because when he was growing he had Osgood-Schlatter’s, that knee-growth condition, and it was always a case of we’re going to have to wait for him.
Boy to man: Welbeck enjoyed a fruitful loan spell at Sunderland last term
‘When we put him on loan to Sunderland, I think that’s when he became a man. He’s still only 20 years of age and he’s got a great future, the lad.
‘He’s a big rangy, long-legged boy who can gallop really quickly. Once he gets his legs going, he’s quick. He’s a good footballer, he’s got a great attitude when he loses the ball, a tremendous attitude to win it back.’
Ferguson admits he will struggle to keep all of Rooney, Hernandez, Welbeck, Berbatov and Owen happy as the transfer window approaches.
Selection headache: Javier Hernandez (right) was Wayne Rooney's regular partner up front last season
He said: ‘If you look at Berbatov, Owen, Hernandez and Rooney, they all have different qualities.
‘You have to utilise all that and make changes as best you can. The horrible part for me now is with having Javier back, what do we do? It is going to be a big problem for me.’
Patrice Evra - captain against Spurs in the absence of Nemanja Vidic - was quick to praise the latest batch of United kids.
Captain for the night: Patrice Evra was the oldest player in Man United's starting line-up on Monday
The left-back, who was the oldest in the starting line-up at 30, joked: ‘Don’t say that, don’t say that!’
He then added: ‘I’m really happy with the performance. The young players deserve this and you have to give them a lot of credit. A lot of people talk about the academy and they showed what they can do.
‘It’s amazing. In the Community Shield, against West Brom... the boss is not afraid to play young players.
No fear: Ferguson (left) fielded his youngest ever Premier League side against Spurs
‘They have such composure. They want to prove to the manager that they are ready to play on the team. It’s good for us because we need some energy and they have that. I’m not surprised because they played well during pre-season and they are all confident.
‘We have lost a lot of experienced players like Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, but you can see now that the team is very fresh, it has a lot of energy and the football is quick.
'The young players just have to keep going and it’s up to players like myself, Rio and Vidic to make sure they keep developing.’
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