Ferguson Hints That Manchester United Duo Will Exit

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Federico Macheda and Mame Biram Diouf will both likely leave Manchester United on loan in the January transfer window, as both youngsters struggle for game time at Old Trafford.

Macheda has made just three appearances for United each so far this season, with Diouf mentioning four times. And though Macheda scored in the Carling Cup match up with Crystal Palace, their lack of experience showed when the Red Devils were defeated 2-1 by their lower league opposition.

And Ferguson has admitted that he doesn't think he will keep the youngsters at the club for the rest of the season, with the United manager admitting he shouldn't have relied on them to get through the Carling Cup quarter final.

"The problem is the type of reserve league we have now, it's really a youth league, and that is a big problem," he said.

"It [the defeat] bothers me in the sense that the level of training we do was let down.

"For us it was Rafael's first game, Darron Gibson's first game, Mame Diouf's only played four games this season, Macheda only his third game.

"That's not enough football to play in the quarter-final of a League Cup I'm afraid. That caught us and I was surprised of the level of fitness of Crystal Palace against us.

"In terms of match play we were certainly short.

"It works well for all young players to get game time and that's what we are looking at for Macheda and Diouf, they need game time, there is no question about that. Every young players wants to play and we have to give them that opportunity."

After a wildly successful start to the season, United have struggled to keep up their winning momentum, though the side have posted consecutive victories in the league after losing to cross-town rivals Manchester City 6-1.

After their loss to Palace in the Carling Cup though, Ferguson looks set to change tactics, and with the January transfer window just a few weeks away from opening, United will be setting the wheels in motion to help their youth develop and get to the point where they can compete in Cup and League matches.