Manchester United academy coach Justin Cochrane has defended his players after their early elimination from the EFL Trophy.

United fell to a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the Papa John's Trophy at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday but Cochrane reacted positively to what he's seeing from the young players.

"The positives are that we showed we can play at this stage, that the youngsters wanted the ball and created opportunities," Cochrane told club media.

"At times, when you think 'oh, this could be a bit of a problem', they kept going. We got lots of good young players now, who I look at and think this is something you can add, or tick, on the development, playing at the stadium of an ex-Premier League club.

"It showed you've got potential to go further."