Tottenham Under-21 boss Ugo Ehiogu had belief Cameron Carter-Vickers could shackle Radamel Falcao

Tottenham Hotspur Under-21 boss Ugo Ehiogu had no doubts 17-year-old defender Cameron Carter-Vickers would be capable of shacking Radamel Falcao in his side's clash with their Manchester United counterparts.

Having featured as an unused substitute in United's last two first-team games, the Colombia international was handed a start for Warren Joyce's young side in their Under-21 Premier League clash at Old Trafford on 10 March.

Goals from Rafael da Silva and Tottenham's Kevin McEvoy saw the sides share the points but Falcao once again struggled to deliver an impact and was substituted after 72 minutes.

The on-loan Monaco striker was comfortably dealt with by Carter-Vickers and his centre-half partner, 28-year-old Bongani Khumalo, with manager Ehiogu particularly pleased with the youngster's performance.

"You try not to expect too much but I always back Cameron and I had no issue with him being able to handle the situation," Ehiogu told Tottenham's official website.

"We have always had confidence in him and he isn't fazed by anything. It was United at Old Trafford, he was up against a world-class striker and his performance was a real testament to the lad. It all bodes well for the future."

Falcao, who has struck just four goals since joining United on transfer deadline day in September 2014, was a regular presence in manager Louis van Gaal's first team throughout January and the early weeks of February.

But a wretched performance against Preston North End in the FA Cup has seen him drop to the bench and the striker has since started just one game of United's last four.

Van Gaal's decision to overlook the former Atletico Madrid star despite his side desperately chasing a goal in the FA Cup defeat to Arsenal on 9 March was another blow to the striker's hopes of earning a permanent deal at Old Trafford.

United have the option to exercise an option to buy Falcao from Monaco at the end of the season for a fee reportedly set at £43.5m ($65.1m)