After winning the Milk Cup last week, Manchester United U18 coach Paul McGuinness has challenged his players to maintain their progress this season.

"The examples are there in front of their own eyes - Macheda and Welbeck have both done well, but not only them, you've got Jonny Evans and Darron Gibson and a host of other young players working their way through the Reserves and towards the first-team," McGuinness told ManUtd.com.

"If you're good enough, work hard enough and, most importantly, take your chance when it comes, you can be successful. The Milk Cup was a really good challenge against some very good teams, that's the challenge we want for these boys."

United have taken on 12 first-year Academy scholars this year. So it will be a 'young' U18 side this season. That presents its own challenges, but McGuinness is excited by his current crop.

"At this age, it's natural you have a varied group in terms of their physical development. You balance training to suit that. We've concentrated on the football, they get their fitness from playing. Now we're ready for the start of the season."