He may be on loan to Hibs - but this lad's heart is still with Ferguson's men in Monaco Brebner proves that United have youth on their side

Although he has yet to break through into the first team, he has won every title going with the Old Trafford youth and reserve teams in which he has played alongside such luminaries as Brian McClair, Jordi Cruyff, David May, and Ole Gunner Solskjaer.

As part of the United manager's long-term planning, younger players like Brebner are sent out on loan periods to clubs up and down the country. Brebner's move last week to Hibs - the team he supported as a boy growing up in Midlothian - is a dream come true.

On Saturday, he almost scored with his first touch against Celtic and looks a good acquisition by manager Alex McLeish in the Easter Road side's fight against relegation.

Yesterday, his thoughts turned to the team who had nurtured him since he joined them from his school in Dalkeith and for which he has nothing but praise.

Professionally he believes the club will take at least a point against Monaco, and personally hopes for a place in the starting line-up for his close friend Phillip Neville, who scored his first goal for the club against Chelsea on Saturday.

Talking at Easter Road yesterday, Brebner, a Scottish under-21 internationalist, made clear his admiration for the management of Ferguson, who had built a team which he believed was capable of winning the European Cup.

''United have beaten Juventus and a number of other top teams. I think they are favourites to go on to win this competition,'' he said. ''Hopefully the team can come away with a draw tonight. It doesn't matter who United take back to Old Trafford because they will always give them a good game there.''

Brebner said Ferguson had instilled such a closeness in the ranks that it would be wrong, as well as impossible, to pick out one player which could influence tonight's game.

''At United, and I genuinely mean this, all the players are very good to one another. There are no arguments, no cliques among the players. It doesn't matter if you are one of the apprentices, the first team will go out of their way to talk to you.''

As for the managerial skills of Ferguson and his ability to identify young talent, Brebner said that youngsters at the club realise the manager is always looking out for them.

''Because you are at such a big club, he realises what can happen and the pitfalls they face, and he always tries to give advice and protects the young players.''

It was Ferguson who signed Brebner from Hutchison Vale Boys' Club in Edinburgh, and by the player's own admission, the set-up at Old Trafford has helped him to mature more quickly both on and off the pitch.

As well as placing Brebner at Easter Road, Ferguson has taken the strategic decision to farm out other promising youngsters.

''Because of the big squad, the gaffer realises players have to get experience in case they are needed and there are five or six out on loan at present, including Ronnie Wallwark at Carlisle and Paul Teather at Bournemouth. All are good players.

''With that in mind when he came to me last Tuesday and asked did I want to go to Hibs on loan, I did not even have to think about it. They were the team I supported as a boy and trained with as a youngster. In fact if I had not gone to Manchester United in the first place, I would have signed for Hibs.''

Brebner praised the system put in place by Ferguson to encourage young talent and the way the young players take gradual steps towards the first team.

''I joined Manchester United after I left school at 16 and obviously at the time, it was a big decision but looking back it was the right one for me," said Brebner.

''There is a very good structure in place at United and there are four teams, obviously the first team, the reserves, then an A and B team. You do a two-year YTS apprenticeship when, in the first year you play in the B team, and the second year the A team and then you get into the reserves, then hopefully progress to the first-team. During my time in both the B and A teams, we won the league and also the Lancashire Cup and the FA youth cups, where our captain was Phillip Neville. We also won the reserve league. Although I haven't played any first team games I have won all the trophies I could have won at Manchester''

Looking to the future, Brebner said that, in a perfect world, United would win the European Cup and Hibs would avoid relegation this season.

Meanwhile, Scotland midfielder John Collins is top of Monaco's injury worries because of a bruised foot. Monaco are also sweating on the fitness of club captain and defender Franck Dumas and striker David Trezeguet. Both have knee problems.

But back to Alex Ferguson. The Old Trafford chief believes one word above all will sum up his side's destiny - courage.

A pitch just eight inches deep, laid on top of a car park, will be hardly conducive to the sort of free-flowing football that has become the hallmark of his side.

Yet for the Scot, just five matches from putting his hands on his own personal Holy Grail, this is the moment above all when his players must search inside themselves for the winning feeling.

''It's a test of technique and touch, of course,'' said Ferguson. ''But more than anything it's a test of courage.

''We know that defensively they're very good, tackle very hard, and that they won't compromise the way they play.''

''So far we've done everything right but we have to do it again, and that requires good movement despite the surface.

''We reached a certain level at this stage last year against Porto. We were magnificent then and we have to reach that level again if we're to go through.''