David Gray has the advantageous ability of being able to play in almost any position.

Gray, nicknamed ‘greyhound’ because of his name and his pace, grew up near Darren Fletcher just outside Edinburgh.

He arrived at United as a winger. Since then he has played anywhere from striker to centre-half, right-back to right wing.

The Scot has progressed to Reserve team level, but he was one of the highest appearance makers for the Under-18s in 2005/06 with 19 starts and one goal.

Gray signed professional forms with the Reds on 10 August 2005,

and flourished in the Reserves during the first half of the 2006/07 season.

David was supposed to spend the latter half of the season at Royal Antwerp, only to see his hopes hit by a serious knee injury. An early return to Carrington beckoned.

In November 2007, Gray joined League One outfit Crewe on loan in an emergency loan, and made a solitary appearance before returning to United for the remainder of the 2007/08 campaign.

A regular for the Reserves, David has primarily been used as a full-back in recent seasons, but his natural attacking instincts shine

Elegant and composed in possession but full of energy, Rodrigo Possebon is an archetypal box-to-box midfielder.

He joined United in January 2008 from Brazil's Sporting Club Internacional and was immediately handed a senior squad number (34, although he was later registered as 35 for the 2008/09 season).

Possebon's path to Old Trafford was greatly facilitated by his father's Italian heritage, giving the youngster an Italian passport and negating the need for a work permit.

A fluent English-speaker, he quickly assimilated to life in England and made his debut for

the Reserves in a 2-0 Manchester Senior Cup win over Manchester City in February 2008.

The youngster's neat performance carried some promise, leading Academy Manager Brian McClair to admit: "It looks as if he's got quite a bit of talent."

Possebon excelled on his non-competitve debut for the first team in July 2008, helping United to victory over the Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge final in South Africa following a late call-up to the squad. "Rodrigo used the ball well and I think the lad has got a chance," commented Sir Alex afterwards.

The

Bolton-born Sam Hewson is a creative central midfielder who likes to get forward and score goals.

Combining an ability to break up opposition play and a talent to push forward and create chances, or indeed score himself, Hewson is an accomplished midfielder.

Sam made 24 appearances for the Academy Under-18s in 2005/06, scoring six goals. His impressive performances for Paul McGuinness’ side also earned him regular call-ups to United’s Reserves.

Hewson first started playing football at the age of six, kicking a tennis ball around in the school playground.

He was spotted two years later playing for his local team, AFC Bolton. After impressing in only his second match for the team, he was offered a trial at United and began training regularly at the club a year later, aged nine.

During his third season as an Academy scholar, 2007/08, Sam made sufficient impact in United's Reserves to be shortlisted for the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year. He was handed a Premier League squad number (33) at the beginning of the 2008/09 campaign.

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez is one of the game's most lethal finishers. A clinical striker of the ball, he also has the confidence and skill to take on opponents, and is capable of playing as a deep-lying forward or lead striker.

At just 5ft 7in he's not the tallest centre-forward to pull on a Red shirt, but his low centre of gravity aids acceleration and enables him to shield the ball from defenders and turn his marker with speed.

After completing his protracted move from West Ham in August 2007, Tevez enjoyed a superb first season for United. He developed a

thrilling partnership with Wayne Rooney and hit 19 goals, some of them last-gasp and most of them vital to the Reds' Premier League and Champions League Double. His tally included the winner against Liverpool at Anfield, which has already cemented his place in United history.

Tevez is idolised in South America after successful spells at Boca Juniors in his homeland, and Brazilian side Corinthians. Initially he had to win over fans in Brazil, but eventually he captained Corinthians to the title and became the first foreign player to collect the league's Player of the Year award in almost 20 years.

He then spent the 2006/07 season with West Ham. After a slow start where he went 19 games without finding the net, Tevez embarked on a goalscoring spree that saw him net seven times in just 10 matches as West Ham battled to avoid relegation.

That run culminated in the memorable and typically tenacious winner against United at Old Trafford on the final day of the season, which ensured the visitors' top-flight survival.

His impressive displays aren't limited to club football, either. He propelled Argentina to gold in the 2004 Olympic Games by netting an incredible eight times and he's now a

regular member of the senior squad. He notched in the 2006 World Cup against Serbia & Montenegro and then turned in a man-of-the-match performance against Holland in the final Group C clash.

Tevez was the star of United's pre-season preparations in 2008/09 but was forced to miss the Reds' first league fixture due to a family bereavement.

Tom Cleverley is a versatile midfielder who has progressed through the ranks at Old Trafford.

The teenager can play in defence as well as across the middle and proved a real asset to the Reserves during the 2007/08 season after graduating from the Under-18s.

The Basingstoke-born midfielder was a regular for the Reds' second-string last term, and his impressive displays earned him plaudits from coaches Brian McClair and Jim Ryan. Although not a regular goalscorer, Tom did bag a fine brace in the Reserves' victory at Bolton in January 2008. His professionalism and a string of fine

displays saw him temporarily named Reserves captain in the absence of injured skipper Sam Hewson.

In recognition of his achievements, Cleverley was one of three players nominated for the prestigious Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Year award, alongside fellow midfielder Hewson and defender Richard Eckersley.

Following a late call-up to join the squad in South Africa during the 2008 pre-season campaign, Cleverley marked his non-competitive debut with a goal as United claimed victory in the Vodacom Challenge final. Just a few weeks later, he was handed the No.35 shirt in the senior squad.

When Tomasz Kuszczak was given the no.29 jersey and Ben Foster the no.12, many Reds fans assumed the Pole would be third choice between the sticks during the 2007/08 season. However, a cruciate ligament injury kept Foster out until March, by which time Kuszczak had proved his worth to United on numerous occasions.

Kuszczak made 16 appearances in United's double-winning campaign, keeping no fewer than eight clean sheets. And that statistic is all the more admirable when you consider that playing as a substitute goalkeeper is no easy task. Warming the bench for weeks on end, it would be easy for any keeper to lose focus and

sharpness – dangerous considering they might be required to step in at a moment’s notice. But Kuszczak was rarely found wanting and while he was sent off for a foul leading to the decisive penalty in the FA Cup against Portsmouth, even that decision seemed harsh.

Kuszczak arrived at United having already made one outstanding appearance at Old Trafford, for his former club West Bromwich Albion. With the Baggies' top-flight status at stake in May 2005, the Pole was called upon when regular keeper Russell Hoult went off injured after just 22 minutes. The Baggies had just gone 1-0 down to a Ryan Giggs goal, but Kuszczak made

He instantly made a big impression at Old Trafford, saving a penalty by Arsenal's Gilberto Silva on his debut. And although he played only six games in 2006/07, he did received a title winner's medal when the club applied to the Premier League.

Tomasz's first Poland cap, against Malta in December 2003, followed 14 appearances at U-21 level. He was in Poland's 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 squads, as cover for Celtic's Artur Boruc, but did not play in either tournament.

Did You Know? 'Tomasz Kuszczak' would fetch a score of 53 in Scrabble. It's pronounced 'Tomash Koosh-shack'.

Northern Ireland U21 international Darron Gibson is a powerful and athletic midfielder, who can both attack and defend.

His accurate and broad range of passing has made him an integral part of United’s youth team in the last two seasons, and his performances in the Reserves also earned him a chance at first team level.

Gibson’s United debut arrived a day after celebrating his 18th birthday in the Carling Cup victory over Barnet in October 2005. He was a second half substitute for fellow youngster Lee Martin in the 76th minute.

In his second season as an Academy

scholar, Gibson proved he was ready to make the step up to Reserve level. He was a regular fixture in Rene Meulensteen’s Treble-winning side during the 2005/06 campaign. He made 19 appearances, scoring twice.

Highly rated inside Old Trafford, the decision was taken to send Darron to Antwerp for the duration of the 2006/07 season to further his development in a competitive arena.

Although initially hampered by a troublesome knee injury, it didn't take the young midfielder long to make an impact in Belgium, and he was an integral part their push for promotion.

Darren Fletcher is a player for the big occasion. While other men might shirk from the responsibility presented to them in the heat of battle, the Scot thrives in such encounters.

This attitude was never more visibly displayed than in the FA Cup 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal [in February 2008] in which he headed two goals. He set the standard for the team to follow with his indefatigable running, hassling, closing down and tackling which denied the Gunners time and space to play their usual passing game.

“I enjoy the added pressure of the big games," admitted the midfielder, who scooped his

second title medal in May 2008 and was an unused substitute in the Champions League final in Moscow. "The atmosphere’s always special and the crowd spur you on.”

Despite seeing his chances limited in the centre of the park by the impressive partnership of Scholes and Carrick as well as the arrival of Owen Hargreaves and Anderson, the Scottish international still made 24 appearances in 2007/08.

In the previous campaign he played 40 times and netted three goals including a vital winner in the 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough in December 2006. But it was his mature midfield displays in the Champions

League victories over AS Roma and, most notably, AC Milan at Old Trafford that really caught the eye and prompted praise from players and pundits alike.

His United career almost got off to fairytale start when in May 2000, Fletcher was set to be included in the squad for the league trip to Villa Park, but FA rules – and his schoolboy status – denied him the chance.

He joined United officially as a trainee in July 2000, but injuries stymied his progress. He eventually made his debut against Basel in March 2003, but it was in the following season that Fletch made his mark, notching 35

appearances. By this stage, he was established as one of Scotland’s leading lights: he scored the solitary goal against Lithuania that earned a play-off for Euro 2004 and, later that season, aged 20, became Scotland’s youngest captain for 118 years.

The 2004/05 campaign brought Fletcher’s first goal for United, in a 2-0 win at Boro on New Year’s Day. His most famous strike to date was against Chelsea in November 2005 when he headed the goal that ended the champions’ 40-game unbeaten run. However much he's used by Sir Alex, the boss can be sure Fletcher is always ready for the toughest of challenges.

Belfast-born Jonathan Evans is a tall and agile centre-back. An intelligent defender, he combines an uncompromising physical approach with the ability to pass the ball out from the back.

He has proven himself to be strong in the tackle and dominant in the air at youth level, and in 2005/06 he made significant inroads into United’s Reserves, playing 14 matches and contributing two goals.

He was also handed a European squad number at the start of the season and trained and travelled with the first team squad. He was included in the group that went to Paris to face Lille Metropole in November 2005.

Jonny's unquestioned promise led to a shock international call-up to the senior Northern Ireland side at the start of the 2006/07 season.

His outstanding displays on the international stage, together with some phenomenal performances on loan for Royal Antwerp, lend credence to the notion that Evans has what it takes to forge a career for himself in United's first team.

Evans' development certainly caught the eye of his boyhood hero Roy Keane. The Sunderland manager snapped up the youngster within days of his Antwerp loan ending. Jonny spent the rest of the 2006/07 season at the

Stadium of Light, and tasted defeat just once in 19 appearances as the Black Cats stormed into the Premier League as champions.

Evans' fine form on Wearside caught the eye of many clubs, but he remained at Old Trafford for the first half of the 2007/08 season, featuring in the Carling Cup defeat to Coventry and the Champions League group games with Dynamo Kyiv (home) and AS Roma (away).

Chances remained limited for Evans and he rejoined Sunderland on loan in January until the end of the campaign. He made 16 appearances helping Sunderland to a 15th place finish.

He

featured in every one of United's pre-season games ahead of the 2008/09 season and will be hoping for further opportunities as the campaign progresses.

After Manucho’s memorable display for his native Angola in the 2008 Cup Of Africa Nations, Sir Alex Ferguson could breathe a sigh of relief. He would not have to battle it out with his Premier League counterparts for this young star’s services - he was already a Red.

Born Mateus Alberto Contreiras Goncalves, Manucho, as he is known to his team-mates, signed a three-year deal with United after impressing during a three-week trial in December 2007. Before arriving at Old Trafford, the towering striker was the leading scorer in the Angolan top division - the Girabola - for the previous two

seasons, netting 16 goals in 2006/07 and 15 the season before.

His impressive form continued at international level and he played a starring role during Angola's Africa Cup of Nations campaign in January 2008. He opened the scoring in their first game against South Africa and struck another two goals in their 3-1 win over Senegal four days later. He also found the net in the 2-1 defeat to Egypt, firing a 30-yard screamer into the top-left corner. Although the result meant Angola were eliminated from the tournament, Manucho was named in the competition's overall best XI.

On his

return to Old Trafford, Manucho's United career was temporarily put on hold when Sir Alex opted to loan him out to Panathinaikos for the remainder of the 2007/08 season, whilst the club applied for a work permit.

The move to Greece proved to be a successful one for Manucho, who gained valuable first team experience in the Greek first division. He scored on his league debut in the 2–0 home win over Larissa and helped Panathinaikos finish the season in third place, handing them a play-off spot for the remaining European places. Manucho scored three goals in the six-game mini tournament

helping Panathinaikos top the play-off group to qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2008/09 Champions League.

Manucho’s application for a work permit was finally granted in August and the powerful striker is relishing his opportunity at Old Trafford. "I have been a fan of Manchester United since I was very young and have worked hard to make my dream reality."

Manucho’s playing style has been compared to an early Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and joining Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Fraizer Campbell, he will further strengthen United’s attacking options this season.