Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has explained his reasons for giving Shola Shoretire his first team debut.

The 17-year-old academy star came on against Newcastle United in the 89th minute with the team already 3-1 up.

Shoretire has impressed with the club's youth teams, and now is making the step up to the senior level.

"It's important that our kids know that when they're good enough, they're old enough," said Solskjaer after the game to reporters.

"Shola has been training with us for a while, done really well and it was next step for him. A few players went out on loan which made the path for him shorter."

Solskjaer added: "He is a boy we believe in.

"We wanted to give him a little taste of it (playing in the Premier League).

"Of course the game was not done, still another six or seven minutes but he is a boy we believe in."