Dougie Freedman has told his Crystal Palace squad to go and enjoy themselves at Old Trafford tomorrow night and come back with their heads held high.

The Eagles travel to Manchester United for a Carling Cup quarter final full of hope that they could cause an upset having already knocked out Premiership Wigan Athletic and Championship leaders Southampton.

With United set to field a number of youngsters, Freedman will also shuffle his pack but wants the players that do run out on to the Theatre of Dreams pitch to put on a show.

"I’ve told my players to go there and come away better players," he said.

"This is an experience that you have got to soak up, you’ve got to enjoy it, you’ve got to work hard and be proud of your performance and what will be will be.

"That is exactly what I’ve told my players and that is exactly what I am going to do myself.

"I’m very early in my management career, it is something that will be a good distraction and something that I’m looking forward to but I’m not going to be fazed, it’s another game of football against a very good team so I’ll try manage my team as best as possible.

"You’ve got to make yourself and your family proud of your performance if you’re representing this club and that is what I ask of my players - to make themselves and their families proud of them playing there and coming away from it as a better player.

"I was 21-years-old and playing for Palace when I first played there.

"I just remember it being a fantastic experience - we got beat but that’s nothing to be ashamed of and I just remember coming away from it and Steve Coppell saying that it is OK as long as you take something from that game, which I did do."