Rio Ferdinand is thrilled at the possibility of seeing some of Manchester United's youngster's take the field against Newcastle United in the Capital One Cup Wednesday.
The League Cup is the perfect opportunity for some of the bigger teams to given an opportunity for their youngsters, who would otherwise struggle to get games in the English Premier League.
While Newcastle will no doubt be difficult opponents, Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to give a run out to the likes of Nick Powell, who scored a brilliant goal against Wigan Athletic after coming on as a substitute, Jesse Lingard, midfielder Larnell Cole and Angelo Henriquez, and Ferdinand cannot wait to see how they perform on the big stage.
"We have some really talented young players and I'm looking forward to seeing some of them," Ferdinand told the club's official website.
"I'm looking forward to maybe seeing our new signing from Chile, Angelo Henriquez. I'm sure Nick Powell will play and I'm looking forward to seeing him again too as he's a very exciting prospect.
"I'm excited to perhaps see Jesse Lingard play and I think Larnell Cole (could feature) as well. There is Michael Keane at the back too. There are loads of them and I could go on and on and be here all day. Hopefully they can stamp their authority on the cup this year."
Ferdinand thrives on the role of being a mentor for the youngsters and believes it is the duty of the senior players to show their younger counterparts the way forward and lead by example. "I just think it's a natural progression for the senior players and it becomes your duty almost to not force it on the young players but to lead the way and lead by example," Ferdinand said.
"When you need to talk to players or give them a nudge in the right direction, you're there to do that. That's what comes with being a Manchester United player after a few years.
"We just try and make it as easy as possible. We want it to be as comfortable and normal as possible for the young players coming into big stadiums, in front of big crowds with big expectations.
"It's a new world they are entering and, as experienced players, we want to make that a much smoother ride if we can."