MANCHESTER, England (AFP) — Mexico striker Javier Hernandez scored twice as Manchester United reached the League Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over Norwich City at Old Trafford yesterday.

Hernandez put United ahead from the penalty spot and headed in a second goal shortly after half-time before Phil Jones and Fabio da Silva added late goals.

As United coasted into the last eight, it was a night of several positives for manager David Moyes, whose side remain well off the pace in the Premier League.

Experienced defenders Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, who had been out since October 5 and September 28 respectively due to injury, both returned to action.

United’s unbeaten run was stretched to six matches and Wilfried Zaha, who Moyes has hinted could leave on loan in January, made his first start at Old Trafford since joining from Crystal Palace in the summer.

But it was the performance of another youngster, Adnan Januzaj, that really caught the eye.

The 18-year-old, who signed a new five-year contract earlier this month, has mainly been employed on the left flank, but he excelled in a central attacking role behind Hernandez.

Norwich produced a competitive performance but will be more concerned by news of their Scotland winger Robert Snodgrass, who was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury in the second half.

Januzaj was the dominant influence from the start and, after Nathan Redmond dragged wide for the visitors, the United youngster sent Zaha clear down the right flank and the winger’s cross picked out Hernandez, whose effort was deflected wide at the near post.

United were handed the chance to move ahead when Januzaj collected the ball in the area and went down under Leroy Fer’s challenge on the byline, with referee Kevin Friend pointing to the spot.

Hernandez made no mistake with the penalty, thumping a shot into Mark Bunn’s bottom-right corner to give the hosts the advantage with his third goal in consecutive League Cup ties.

Meanwhile, Cesar Azpilicueta seized on a defensive blunder and Juan Mata scored a slick second as Chelsea dumped London rival Arsenal out of the League Cup with a 2-0 victory, also yesterday.

The fourth round loss ends one route to a trophy for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is under pressure to deliver the club’s first silverware since 2005.

But great rival Jose Mourinho now has a quarter-final to look forward to in the competition that gave him the first trophy of his first Chelsea reign in 2005.

In a shock result, Fulham were beaten 4-3 by second-tier club Leicester, but West Ham overcame lower-league opposition, winning 2-0 at Burnley.