Norwich City's Under-21s were ruthlessly put to the sword by a strong Manchester United side at Old Trafford on Monday night.

The Canaries took to the field at the Theatre of Dreams with a side containing just one player with first team experience – Reece Hall-Johnson, who came on a substitute in last season's Capital One Cup win over Crawley.

In contrast United had a number of big names in their line-up, with Phil Jones, Memphis Depay and Adnan Januzaj all featuring, and they were simply too good for the visitors.

Will Keane helped himself to five of the goals while Andreas Pereira converted a penalty and Tim Fosu-Mensah also got in on the act as United scored five times in the second half in front of manager Louis van Gaal.

Keane opened the scoring on 13 minutes when he converted with his second touch after being picked out by Pereira.

Benny Ashley-Seal shot wide for the visitors before Keane notched his second with a tap-in after being picked out by Memphis, who had featured as a substitute in United's Premier League clash on Sunday.

It was soon 3-0 at the start of the second half when Joe Crowe gifted possession to Memphis and he crossed for Keane to loft home his third of a productive night.

Keane set up Donald Love for a thumping drive over the top before number four duly arrived when Pereira's cross was handled by Ray Grant and Pereira tucked away the penalty.

Keane was still hungry for more goals and he produced a classic chip for a breathtaking goal to make it 5-0.

Fosu-Mensah then sprinted clear from left-back to collect a Memphis through ball and finish calmly for his first goal at this level and Keane claimed his fifth following some good play by captain James Weir.

Keane threatened to make it a double hat-trick on a couple of occasions and Fosu-Mensah smashed a shot the wrong side of Matthews' left-hand post as United cruised home in front of 1,758 spectators.

Midfielders Ebou Adams, signed from Dartford on deadline day, and Ben Godfrey, snapped up from York earlier in January, both featured for City.

Norwich City Under-21s: Matthews, Hall-Johnson, Crowe, Coker, Efete, Grant, Godfrey, Middleton (Ramsay 45), Adams (McIntosh 81), Cantwell, Ashley-Seal. Unused: Killip (GK), Couzens, Jaiyesimi.