United tie will put Palace starlets in shop window admits Freedman

Dougie Freedman has welcomed the chance to show off his Crystal Palace starlets at Old Trafford - even if it speeds up their departures from Selhurst Park.

Premier League clubs are already watching Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha, who are the latest in a long line of youth internationals produced by the South London club.

England Under-21 star Victor Moses, for example, was sold to Wigan for £2.5million by Palace last January.

The Eagles, who have not won since beating Southampton in the last round of the Cup, face the English champions live on Sky Sports, and will play in front of a national TV audience again on Friday when they face Derby in the league.

But rather than fear seeing his young talent cherry-picked by clubs higher up the ladder, Freedman reckons these two games are a fantastic advert for the Palace academy, run by Gary Issott.

“At the club, we are very proud of the young players and I have no problem with anyone who wants to come along and watch them or [watch them] on TV,” said the Scot.

“I like to show off the talent we have got.

"I am actually looking forward to these two games to show one or two people that what we do at the club is right and to give a pat on the back to the academy side and development coaches, because they are the ones who get them to a level where I can pick them.

“It is something I am wishing that would happen more often.

"Whatever happens in January will happen. These decisions get made and it’s not for me to make those decisions.”

But Freedman denied the case of John Bostock - who went to Tottenham from Palace as a 16-year-old in 2008 but has never played for them in the Premier League - has helped the club hold on to players.

“I know Johnny Bostock from when I was reserve-team manager. I would have liked to have been speaking to my players and telling them that he plays for England and Tottenham’s first team,” said the Eagles boss. “It would have got us more money and given us more profile if he had got into the national team. So it is a sad story in a way.”

The Cup tie will see Freedman managing against Sir Alex Ferguson, a fellow Glaswegian, for the first time.

“You boys remember him from United, but my memories are of when he was manager of Aberdeen. I did not really like him as, being a Glasgow Rangers fan, he split that up!” he recalled. “It will be an honour to pit my wits against him.

"I don’t drink red wine - I look forward to some conversation with him after the match but will let Sir Alex drink the wine.”

Palace defender Dean Moxey played for Exeter when the Grecians - then a Conference side - forced a goalless draw at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round almost seven years ago.

“The key was having no fear,” recalled the 25-year-old, who is a Manchester United fan.

“They put out a weakened team and we could have gone on and won the game but they won the replay, 2-0. We had no pressure on us whatsoever - we were the Conference team and no-one expected us to win.

"Palace can have the same attitude. If we go there and do what we can do, we can pull off a result.”

Asked if any of the Palace youngsters had asked him about the Exeter tie, Moxey replied: “Not really. I don’t think they really care!”

Palace will return from Manchester by private jet immediately after the match to begin preparations for Friday’s home date with Derby.

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MEET THE PALACE'S YOUNG PRINCES

Nathaniel Clyne, 20, full-back - England U19s and U21s

Wilfried Zaha 19, striker - England U19s

Stuart O’Keefe, 20, midfielder - Signed from Southend in August 2010

Sean Scannell, 21, striker - Republic of Ireland U17s, U18s, U19s, U21 and B team

Jonathan Williams, 18, midfielder - Wales U17s, U19s and U21s (Currently out with a broken ankle)