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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Freddie Keighley

Teden Mengi opens up on Man Utd ambitions after commanding captain's performance

Manchester United starlet Teden Mengi says he is "not looking too far ahead" despite being tipped for first-team opportunities.

The 18-year-old central defender captained United's Under-21s to a 6-0 thrashing of League Two side Salford City in Wednesday night's EFL Trophy clash.

His performance led to praise from first-team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who labelled Mengi "special" and backed him to add to his one senior appearance in the near future.

Solskjaer even compared Mengi to former Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt, who captained the Dutch giants at the age of 19 before his £67.5million transfer to Juventus last summer.

Mengi shone during the 6-0 rout of Salford (PA)

But Mengi insists he is focussed on continuing to impress for the youth teams and will not be distracted by talk of senior opportunities.

“For me I am not looking too far ahead just working as hard as I can,” he said. “I look at the next game and the game after that and if the opportunity comes, it comes.

Will we see Mengi make his Premier League debut this season? Have your say here.

Solskjaer heaped praise on the 18-year-old (Action Images via Reuters)

“It is down to me to keep working hard. If that opportunity comes then I should take it.

“Training with the first team has been 100 percent really beneficial for me, learning how they play, difference of speed in how they play. It has been really good to be around.

“Seeing experienced players, players who have played in the first team for years and years and the best players in the world is a really good experience.

“You learn so much from them even by training with them just once. It is a big eye opener so yes I have loved it.”

Mengi's senior debut came last month as he appeared off the bench during a Europa League knockout-stage match against LASK Linz.

The England youth international has also appeared for United's U16, U18, U21 and U23 teams during his development at the club's Carrington academy.

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