Sunderland boss Gus Poyet won't throw his best kids to the wolves this season.
Poyet insists he is keen to hand the likes of Duncan Watmore and Tom Robson a chance when they are "ready".
"If one day we've got a player who is 17, 18 or 19 and he's ready, he'll play," said the head coach.
"If he can perform in the same way he does for the Under-21s as he does for the first team, then he'll play. But it depends on how you're doing in the first team.
"If the first team is doing OK, then you can put people in. But at the moment, no.
"Robbo travelled with us to Southampton - what an experience that was for him!
"It's why the cup is perfect. I remember last year when I played Duncan and he was running and the people went ballistic.
"I wouldn't be afraid of playing Robbo against certain teams either. There are things he can do, but things he needs to improve too."
