Supporting cast put on a show

SIR Alex Ferguson admitted Manchester United’s starting XI in their Carling Cup victory at Aldershot had put their hands up to replace the club’s derby flops in Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Everton.

Ferguson watched a United second string breeze into the League Cup quarter–finals last night thanks to a 3–0 victory at the EBB Stadium, as the club avoided further humiliation.

The club’s first XI were thrashed 6–1 at home by Manchester City on Sunday and changes are likely at Goodison Park this weekend.

Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen and Antonio Valencia all scored last night, while Tom Cleverley made his comeback from injury and Nemanja Vidic and Phil Jones also returned to the starting line–up.

Ferguson said: “They’ll always give me nudges. It’s difficult picking a team when you’ve got so many good players.

“We have a fantastic squad. That’s why I had to play these players. They need the games, they’ve not had many first–team games to be honest with you because the consistency of the team has been very good – we've not needed to make any changes. But there’s Michael Owen — every time he plays, he scores.

“He’s a fantastic pro. Dimitar Berbatov had a fantastic game and scored a tremendous goal from great football.”