Of course, the most callow side to take the pitch this term came in the Europa League tie at Astana amid a busy schedule, with 36-year-old Lee Grant's inclusion in goal bringing the average age up to 22.1.

It was the joint-ninth youngest in the history of the competition and one of only three non-Dutch sides in the top 10. One of the others was Molde, managed by Ole, in a 2-0 defeat to Steaua Bucharest in October, 2012.

Remarkably, nine of the starting line-up were Academy players.

United's team that evening in Kazakhstan was: Grant; Laird, Tuanzebe, Bernard, Shaw; Garner, Levitt; Chong, Lingard, Gomes; Greenwood.