British Nordic head coach Roy Young believes his faith in youth is now paying dividends on the eve of the opening FIS cross-country World Cup of the season in Beitostoelen, Norway.

Scottish teenager Andrew Musgrave will be Great Britain's sole representative in Norway, but a number of even younger Brits, including Andrew Young [Roy's son] and Callum Smith are knocking on the door.

Young junior is currently ranked third in the world at under-18 level while Smith is also in the top 25 and Fiona Hughes claimed victory in a junior freestyle cross-country race in Bruksvallarna, Sweden last weekend.

Musgrave went from strength to strength in his breakthrough season last year, coming an impressive 42nd in his maiden appearance at the World Championships in March.

The Scot is also almost certain to become Great Britain's first ever Olympic cross-country skier in Vancouver in February but Young senior insists the emergence of a cluster of impressive youngsters is no coincidence.

"Andrew Musgrave is obviously our top skier at the moment and he's training at a Norwegian camp in Hovden where he's joined their coaching," he said.

"Andrew's success has been a learning experience for us all but they've said they're very happy with him.

"We've got just one quota place for the World Cups at the moment because of the nation's world ranking but some race organisers will let us have a couple of starters so hopefully we can get as many people involved as possible.

"None of the girls have made the qualification standard yet but I'm confident they're all going to be there by Christmas so it's looking good at this early point in the season.

"The team has been a culmination of a lot of work from a lot people which started six or seven years ago.

"The big teams have a much bigger support network for their young skiers so we've got to make sure we keep supporting our young athletes' progression so they don't lose ground on the best in the world."