Ashley Young is willing to play at right back for his country

Newcastle are at last revising their transfer policy on English players

It is a far cry from the faith in youth shown by Sir Alex Ferguson

United's Under 18s are second-bottom of their age group's league table

In the main corridor leading to the academy changing rooms at Carrington, images of some of Manchester United's greatest players leap out at the youngsters.

As they tie up their boots before training, they can look up to pictures of David Beckham, Duncan Edwards, Ryan Giggs, Sir Bobby Charlton and Norman Whiteside. All of them progressed through United's academy.

On Friday evening, seven miles down the road from the Theatre of Dreams, the studs will rattle the corridors of Altrincham's Moss Lane ahead of an FA Youth Cup fourth-round tie against Chelsea.

Manchester United Under 18s' Timothy Fosu-Mensah (left) dribbles with the ball in the FA Youth Cup

United's academy at Carrington has been neglected in recent years, leaving the club behind their rivals

Ryan Giggs (left) and David Beckham both progressed from United's youth ranks to the first-team

Under 18s manager Paul McGuinness sees his side second-bottom in the Premier League Northern Division

United Under 18s will travel to Altrincham's Moss Lane to face Chelsea in the FA Youth Cup on Friday

Paul McGuinness, son of former United manager Wilf, is in charge of an Under 18s team who have lost their last 10 matches in the Premier League Northern Division. Nobody gives them much of a chance against the defending champions Chelsea.

United's academy is in bits, with chronic under investment one of principal reasons that the Under 18s are a staggering 30 points behind Manchester City in the league.

The Under 21s, coached by Warren Joyce, are still on course for the Premier League title, but the deeper concerns lie with the younger age groups.

United's academy costs £3.5million a year to run, woefully shy of the £12m pumped into City's set-up and the £7m Chelsea invest in their lavish academy system.

Coaches are paid £20,000 a year at United, around half of that being paid to the very best at City.

They have allowed their rivals to steam ahead, to pick up the best young talent in the North West and beyond.

At huge expense, City put them through independent grammar school, preparing them for a future outside of the game in case they do not make it.

United are labouring, with an air of apathy sweeping the academy after years of neglect.

Louis van Gaal is well aware that standards have slipped, standing up at a recent Premier League managers' meeting to demand better coaches in this country. Arsene Wenger, critical of the standards at Arsenal's Hale End academy, seconded him.

United's academy has become an afterthought, with the emphasis on sponsorship and marketing deals to fund the massive transfer fees and wages that are swallowed up by the first team.

Manchester City Under 18s forward Bersant Celina (right) celebrates scoring against Newcastle

Red Devils Under 18s striker Marcus Rashford (centre) controls the ball under pressure against Sunderland

Liverpool Under 18s' Ben Woodburn (centre) scores against United from close-range earlier this month

Reds Under 18s midfielder Herbie Kane (right) sees his shot cannon off the post in the clash with United

To get so much as a new set of balls, bibs and cones, the purchase order needs to be seen by that many sets of eyes at Old Trafford that academy staff have given up pleading for investment.

The club's technical board, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the club's owners, the Glazer family, are across every item of expenditure. A new order can take three months to be signed off, a ludicrous amount of time for a club ranked third in the Deloitte money list on Wednesday with annual revenues of £400.3m.

The shadow of the Class of '92 hangs heavy over this club, a one-off generation who went on to win countless Premier League titles before finally landing the big one, the Champions League, under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999.

United legend Paul Scholes (right), renowned for his passing ability, graduated from the club's academy

L-R: Youth coach Eric Harrison and academy players Giggs, Nicky Butt, Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Scholes and Terry Cooke pose for a photograph together back in 1992

United celebrate winning the Champions League title in 1999 with the academy graduates playing a key role

To bring this academy back into line will take years of planning and funding, something United have started to look at after poking their noses over the neighbours' fence.

Tottenham's academy director John McDermott, a childhood United fan, turned down the position in December because he is on to a good thing at White Hart Lane.

Tottenham's youth team were well beaten by Middlesbrough in the FA Youth Cup last week, a reminder that the competition can still spring the occasional surprise. On Friday, it is down to United to pull off a shock.

Ashley buying British at last

Mike Ashley is so concerned by the threat of Newcastle being relegated that he has sided with Steve McClaren ahead of chief scout Graham Carr in a battle over recruitment policy.

McClaren wants a significant English presence in the dressing room at St James' Park, which is the reason behind the club's sudden deviation from their strategy of buying European prospects with resale value.

Newcastle completed the £12m signing of England international midfielder Jonjo Shelvey earlier this month

Shelvey was congratulated on a fine debut performance against West Ham by Toon boss Steve McClaren

West Brom striker Saido Berahino is another player who could be on his way to St James' Park in January

Newcastle's head coach made a big play for Charlie Austin last week but the former QPR forward decided to join Southampton instead.

McClaren has signed Jonjo Shelvey from Swansea for £12m, with the promise of more English talent to come after targeting Andros Townsend at Tottenham and West Bromwich striker Saido Berahino.

Unfortunately for McClaren he is wasting his time pursuing Berahino, who is holding out for a move to Spurs that may never happen.

What I'm hearing

1. Ashley Young is willing to play right back for the England team if it means forcing his way back into Roy Hodgson's plans for Euro 2016.

Young, who is one of Louis van Gaal's favoured first-team players, has been playing out of position on the right for United of late and is willing to compete with Nathaniel Clyne and Kyle Walker if he can get another shot at an England shirt.

Ashley Young is willing to play right back in order to feature for the England team at Euro 2016

2. Patrick Bamford is stalling over a move to Championship strugglers QPR because he is waiting for a Premier League team to take him on loan for the rest of the season.

The striker failed to make an impact on loan at Crystal Palace this season but is determined to prove himself in the top flight.

The 22-year-old scored a couple of goals for Chelsea's reserve team in a behind-closed-doors game against QPR this week.

Patrick Bamford (left) failed to make his mark during his loan spell at Crystal Palace earlier this season

3. Liverpool want it both ways after demanding £3m for their talented young forward Jerome Sinclair. The striker has turned down a contract worth £5,000 a week at Anfield, but Liverpool are still demanding crazy money for a player who has made just a handful of first-team appearances.