It was intended to be the perfect showcase for Fergie’s new batch of fledglings to prove they have what it takes to make the grade at Old Trafford. But if their defeat at home to Turkish also-rans Besiktas was anything to by, the future could be very bleak.   Out of the several youngsters that started the Champions League clash, Federico Macheda, is possibly the only one who could have a long-term future for the Premier League champions but others such as Darron Gibson, Danny Welbeck and Ben Foster are unlikely to cement regular first-team places anytime soon.

Although it was undoubtedly a lacklustre display Sir Alex Ferguson has to take much of the responsibility for their first home loss in Europe since February 2005. The timing of his experimental line-up wasn’t ideal for starters. Qualification had already been secured, but top-spot was still up for grabs so it’s baffling why Fergie didn’t go with a stronger line-up, clinch the group and then field a weakened team in what would have been a dead-rubber for them against Wolfsburg. In this scenario, there wouldn’t have been as much pressure on the youngsters and they would have been absolved from any criticism, but now United have to travel to Germany and get a result against the Bundesliga winners to guarantee top-spot.

It’s a nuisance that could have been avoided and considering Wolfsburg will be desperate to get the result they need to ensure they finish above CSKA Moscow, United will have a tough job on their hands. A 1-0 victory or a triumph by two goals or more for the Germans would send them through to the last 16 as group winners.

Of course Fergie might not be bothered who he gets in the knockout phase and topping the group doesn’t necessarily mean an easier draw, but the Scot would almost certainly prefer to meet Barcelona later on in the competition.

The peculiar thing about the Besiktas game was the total contrast between what was said about the younger players’ potential and the actual performance. Fergie spoke very highly of them but on the evidence of what we’ve seen perhaps that’s a ploy – along with naming them in the startling line-up in the first place - to command higher transfer fees for them when United do decide to move them on.

But it wasn’t just the youngsters that stuttered through their Old Trafford audition – some of the more experienced players struggled as well.

Most would be in agreement that Gary Neville has been a great servant for Manchester United but why he hasn’t hung up his boots is anyone’s guess. His recent comments about the struggles of arch-rivals Liverpool will strengthen his relationship with the United fans but the veteran should look at his own performances before twisting the knife in elsewhere.

It was left to one of United’s other members of the old guard, the evergreen Ryan Giggs, to inspire their return to form at Portsmouth but the Welshman is 36-years-old this week and Fergie will have to rely on spending big in January, as opposed to their crop of youngsters, to support the cause in the second half of the season.