McGuinness sets U18s target

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United's youngsters kick off the defence of their 2008 Milk Cup crown on Monday night against County Antrim at the Showgrounds in Ballymena.

Paul McGuinness took his squad over to Northern Ireland on Sunday to take part in the prestigious youth tournament as part of the Under-18s' pre-season preparations.

United won the tournament for the third time last summer, ending a five-year wait since 2003's victory. Federico Macheda, Nicky Ajose and Oliver Norwood were all on the scoresheet as the Reds beat American side South Coast Bayern 3-0 in the final.

It's a measure of the tournament's standing that Macheda, who scored six goals in Northern Ireland, went on to make a crucial impact on last season's title race, while promising Reserves and Academy performances from Ajose and Norwood earned them professional contracts this summer.

McGuinness, who has taken in 12 new 16-year-old Academy recruits this year, may have a younger squad to work with as he attempts to retain the trophy.

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United began the defence of the Premier title at Northern Ireland's Milk Cup with a convincing 3-0 win over local side County Antrim.

The Reds were 2-0 up and cruising by half time, before adding a third after the break.

Irish winger Robbie Brady scored twice, before first-year Academy scholar William Keane got the other in front of an ever-enthusiastic crowd at Ballymena Showgrounds.

Ravel Morrison's straight red card soured the start of the tournament for Paul McGuinness' side, but overall it was a pleasing first match for the young Reds squad, which contains just two of the players who lifted the trophy last term.

United are in action again on Tuesday against Peruvian side Club Cantolao, at Coleraine Showgrounds.

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United's youngsters continued their emphatic start to the defence of the Premier crown at Northern Ireland's Milk Cup with a convincing 4-0 win over Peruvian side Club Cantalao.

The Reds have earned a place in the last eight of the prestigious pre-season youth tournament, played against Desportivo Brasil tonight (Wednesday).

Paul McGuinness' young charges are in fine form after starting the competition with a 3-0 win over local boys County Antrim.

Dublin-born winger Robbie Brady was again in the thick of the action, adding a second brace in two days. He scored United's first and last goals, while Michael Ngoo and Etzaz Hussain got the others in a commanding display.

Reds boss Paul McGuinness told the competition's website, nimilkcup.org: "It was a comfortable success for us. We played some very clever football, but we were given room to do just that."

It says it all that the Man of the Match was Cantalao's goalkeeper Patricio Musso Savage, who prevented a much heavier loss. "I must praise their goalkeeper," added McGuinness. "He gave a top-class performance."

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United's youngsters overcame tough opponents Desportivo Brasil in dramatic fashion in the Milk Cup, securing a place in the tournament's last four after a tense 6-5 penalty shoot-out win.

Following on from 3-0 and 4-0 victories over County Antrim and Club Cantalao earlier in the competition, United were always likely to face a tougher test from the talented Brazilians.

And so it proved as the game ended 0-0 and entered a shoot-out. But Paul McGuinness' young charges held their nerve to win 6-5.

Fenerbahce, FC Porto and Sheffield United also progressed in the Premier category of the Milk Cup tournament, which the Reds won last year thanks to a 3-0 final triumph over American side South Coast Bayern.

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United are in the final of the Milk Cup's Premier competition after beating Fenerbahce 2-1 in the semi-finals on Thursday night.

It was a hard-fought game for the young Reds, who needed to show class and determination in equal measure to defeat a strong Fenerbahce side.

Winger Robbie Brady has been in fine form in Northern Ireland this week, and the Dubliner struck his fifth goal of the tournament. Norwegian forward Josh King got United's other goal.

Paul McGuinness' side will now face Sheffield United in the final of the prestigious youth tournament on Friday after the Yorkshire club beat FC Porto on penalties in the other semi-final.

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United have won the Milk Cup premier crown for the second year in a row after an impressive 2-0 win over Sheffield United at Coleraine Showgrounds.

The prestigious youth tournament is a staple of United youth teams' pre-season preparations. And after wins over County Antrim (3-0), Club Cantalao (4-0), Desportivo Brasil (on penalties) and Fenerbahce 2-1, the Reds faced Sheffield United in the final.

The Blades are physical and predictably came quickly out of the traps. It was a nervy start for United, which is understandable on such an occasion, but once Paul McGuinness' charges settled they soon moved in front. An attack down the left midway through the half ended with captain Robbie Brady squaring the ball for Michael Ngoo, who kept his cool to stroke the ball into the back of the net.

Ngoo, a trialist from Southend, was involved in United's second as well, which arrived fifteen minutes from time. Latching onto a pass into the area, the tall attacker flicked the ball back for playmaking midfielder Etzaz Hussain to sidefoot in United's second.

The Blades pulled a goal back late on, though it was little more than a consolation - albeit deserved for their persistent effort. But United had done enough to retain the trophy.

McGuinness was delighted his side became the first to retain the trophy. "It's a great achievement," he said. "Quite a few of these players can come back next year, so maybe we'll make it three in a row. The conditions were difficult but we dealt with it well. The second goal was a magnificent team goal, so hopefully we entertained the crowd as well."

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Paul McGuinness has laid down the gauntlet to this year's crop of Under-18s: promising young players are given the chance at Old Trafford, now's the opportunity to show what you can do.

His players have responded well so far, clinching the eminent Milk Cup youth tournament in Northern ireland on Friday, beating Sheffield United 2-1 in the final.

Last year in the competition, Federico Macheda scored six goals, including one in the final. McGuinness says he hardly needs to spell out what has happened to Kiko in the last year. But the Italian teenager has carved out a potential place among Sir Alex's four strikers.

"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," Paul 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."

The Reds kick off the Premier Academy League campaign against Southampton on Saturday 22 August.