FOR a team with a 41-year-old goalkeeper and a 34-year-old boss who has even pulled his boots on for first-team duty this season, youth isn't a word you would readily associate with Nottingham Forest.

But take evergreen number one Dave Beasant and 35-year-old substitute defender Colin Calderwood out of the equation and Forest boast one of the youngest line-ups in the First Division.

The average age of their current side is just under 22 with the latest discovery, Andy Reid, becoming the fourth teenager in the side that beat Sheffield United 2-0 in mid-week to take Forest into the play-off places.

Striker Reid, who marked his debut with a goal, is only 18, while three of the Forest midfield are in their teens, namely Keith Foy, David Prutton and Gareth Williams.

All are products of the City Ground's Youth Academy run by former playing favourite Paul Hart.

And Platt insists the youngsters are in the side on merit, with Reid preferred in mid-week to more experienced performers Stern John and Marlon Harewood.

"They have got in on ability. They are of a very young age to be in the Nottingham Forest first team but they are in because they are good enough.

"Now they have to do it on a consistent basis, which can be the difficult thing for a young player," said the former England midfielder, who is starting to live up to his billing as one of the bright young things of English football management.

"I have never really been forced to use the young players but if they prove to me they're good enough they will get their chance," he added.

"Both Keith Foy and Gareth Williams have underlined that, at the age of 18, they have promising futures ahead of them. "We played Andy Reid because I thought he would cause their defence a few problems and that proved to be the case.

"He had a number of efforts on goal in the first half and that is what he's there for.

"And the finish for the goal was absolutely brilliant. I'm delighted for him to score on his debut as I know what a feeling getting your first goal is.

"You've got to take your hat off to him. He took his opportunity and now he's got to produce that consistently."

Forest put five past Burnley in their previous meeting this season but will field a completely different strikeforce tomorrow with Jack Lester suspended and Robbie Blake back at Bradford after his three-month loan spell.

Reid is expected to be partnered by John as Forest look to continue their impressive away form which has seen them lose only once on their travels so far, at Blackburn Rovers back in early September.

Their home record has also been good since that win over Burnley, which proved to be a major turning point in Forest's fortunes.

Platt insisted from the off that his side was play-off material but he is expecting a tough scrap at Turf Moor as he looks to keep his team above Burnley in the table.

He said: "We knew if we won we would go into the top six but it doesn't mean a great deal because tomorrow we've got another game and a battle against a side we've just displaced in the top six. And if they beat us they will replace us.

"Our main aim was to get into the top six and now we are there we have to cement ourselves in there.

"That's the challenge and it will only mean something if we stay in there to the end of the season."