Boro boys have devil of job at Old Trafford.

The youngsters of Middlesbrough will try to heap more disappointment on Sir Alex Ferguson tonight.

Boro's Under-18s travel to Manchester United on a mission to overturn a 2-0 deficit in the second leg of the FA Youth Cup final.

Red Devils' boss Ferguson's most pressing priority this weekend will be to lift his first-team squad for their vital Premiership trip to Tottenham following Wednesday's Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.

However, the demands of an instant recovery from that European low are unlikely to prevent him being an interested spectator at Old Trafford when his current crop of prospects look to tie up a record ninth Youth Cup in a match televised live on Sky Sports.

Of all Ferguson's many achievements during his 16-year stint at United, it is the revolution he instigated among the club's junior coaching and scouting systems for which he will probably be most proud.

For, without the home-grown talent which provides the back-bone of the current side, there might have been no trebles, doubles, cups and league titles.

And that is why Ferguson will cast his eye over Brian McClair's charges, as he has done in all the previous rounds so far.

McClair was handed overall responsibility for the club's Under-19 and Under-17 sides after guiding the reserve team to their league title last season.

McClair said: "In all the time Sir Alex has been here, he has always encouraged young players coming through the ranks.

"He is always asking about them and he always speaks to them.

"And that is a great boost in itself.

"Youngsters here can see people getting an opportunity and that has got to help."