Get the biggest United stories, analysis and transfer window updates delivered straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

For those Manchester United supporters concerned by that haven for young professionals on Alan Turing Way and the City Football Academy's talent pool, Louis van Gaal offered some words of reassurance last week.

"Over the coming months, using the full squad will become important in our quest to be challenging on three fronts," Van Gaal wrote in his programme notes.

"Axel Tuanzebe was included in the matchday squad for our trip to Crystal Palace, and this is important in the development of the youth players.

"Axel stayed on the bench but the experience of travelling with the team, training and being part of the team meetings is an important part of the learning curve that he and other young players will take as they progress."

Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, another teenage defender, received his promotion against West Brom. Seven academy products made their debuts under Van Gaal last season and four of them, as well as James Wilson, signed new contracts this year. Gradually, United are staking their faith in the production line.

United's medical centre must have resembled an episode of Casualty at times last season, which offered the youngsters their chances, but Van Gaal has set the wheels in motion again after they ground to a halt under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Jesse Lingard, a player Ferguson predicted would emerge in his early 20s, is the last great hope of the Class of 2011. A combination of court appearances, drink-driving offences, poor attitude, and poor management prevented the promising members from making an impression until Lingard returned last month.

Ferguson started the unremarkable Zeki Fryers, yet Paul Pogba made just seven substitute appearances. The French midfielder wanted to have his cake and eat it. Instead, he was handed crumbs.

United's academy is still in a state of flux. There was no trip to the Milk Cup this year, a decision exacerbated by the botched transition from Ferguson to Moyes and Moyes to Van Gaal.

Tony Park, an almanac when it comes to United's youth set-up who co-authored Sons of United, wrote in United We Stand: "I have no doubt that Ferguson took his eye off the ball over his last few years in charge and, as many of his old tried-and-tested scouts moved on or retired, they were not replaced."

Former United players agreed. Robin van Persie, Darren Fletcher and Phil Neville's lads joined City's academy. Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have ensured their sons, Zach and Reuben, remain red.

"The buzz in Manchester is that it is City now who have the better academy programme,” Paul Scholes said 10 months ago. Liverpool and City wanted Callum Gribbin. Instead, he signed a new contract and was training with the first-team in pre-season.Van Gaal's track record with youngsters is worthy of its own tome and the Dutchman is helping United's academy regain its aura.

Moyes gained a mythical reputation for blooding young players at Everton over 11 years and, though Wayne Rooney and Ross Barkley were sensational talents in their teens, the brittle Jack Rodwell struggled at Goodison and was quickly nicknamed 'the crab' by supporters. In Van Gaal, United's youngsters have a coach who has nurtured world-class talents in different nations.

It did not take long for Van Gaal to dispel petty fears over United's 'identity'. The concern over United's spending last summer was risible, considering they had broken the British transfer record as far back as Tommy Taylor's move from Barnsley in 1953, and now Van Gaal is attempting to balance investment with youth.

"I regularly invite members of the development squad to train alongside the first team," Van Gaal said in October. "It gives them a chance to step up their training and to improve their technical ability." James Weir and Donald Love have trained with the first-team and Sean Goss was included in the pre-season tour squad.

Tuanzebe and Gribbin could spearhead an exciting crop at Carrington. Timothy Fosu-Mensah patrolled the midfield against Everton Under-21s in September like a man affronted by his selection at junior level, the greased lightning fast Ro-Shaun Williams' development has led to his presence at first-team games in the directors' box and Angel Gomes evoked memories of Febian Brandy's brilliance at Real Madrid 13 years ago in an indoor tournament.

Perhaps most hearteningly, there is a Mancunian or north-western core to United's youth sides. Maybe all roads do not lead to the CFA.