UNITED'S young Turks will be handed the opportunity to earn their Champions League spurs against Besiktas on Wednesday night.

The Reds have qualified for the knockout stages and the Turkish side are favourites to head out of the tournament with just a point on their record so far.

Sir Alex Ferguson usually targets winning the group ahead next month's last-16 draw but there's less advantage this season with so many big names struggling.

That enables the Reds boss the luxury of giving the younger element in his squad European experience.

Fergie did that against CSKA Moscow at the beginning of the month when he started with 18-year-old striker Federico Macheda against the Russians.

Summer purchase Gabriel Obertan also made his European debut against the Muscovites as a substitute and the 20-year-old Frenchman is in line for his first European start tonight.

Danny Welbeck has yet to taste any European action in his young Old Trafford career so this could provide the ideal platform to blood him.

And with the injury problems surrounding the Reds defence, Belgian full back Ritchie De Laet could get a 21st birthday present three days early from Fergie.

Darron Gibson is back from injury and in need of minutes on his stats this term, and Fergie has promised the Republic of Ireland player a place in his opening XI.

"I don't think being first or second in the group carries so much importance this time. What does it matter? But we do want to win the group because it is the best thing to do," said the United boss.

"However, this is a good fixture because I can try one or two things, although in the last game, against CSKA Moscow, we were far too open but we ended up with a fantastic game.

"We will challenge the younger players. Gibson, young Rafa, it is a great challenge for these players. I may also start with Obertan.

"It is difficult getting players matches when you have a big squad. We all face that problem. We try and use the League Cup and now fortunately we have qualified early so we can use the young players in Europe.

"You have to give the chance to the ones who have to be challenged.

"It happens in football where there comes a point where a young player who has that innate ability to be a top player and you recognise it you have to give them the challenge otherwise they lose the scent.

"We have been good over the years at recognising that. It is unfortunate for the ones above them but that is the nature of football where a young player turns the corner and takes someone's job.

"Darron Gibson, for instance, is not playing the amount of football he would wish for but he has very good competition in Scholes, Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher.

"But he has never let it get to him in terms of being unsettled. His performances in training are excellent and every session he comes in knowing it has been worthwhile. He has a purpose about his training."

Ji-sung Park, who has been out with a knee problem for the last 12 matches, is also under consideration but Owen Hargreaves is still not ready.

"It is difficult to say when he will be fit. I have not got an answer to that," Fergie added.