One of the most pleasant aspects of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United reign was the Norwegian’s confidence in the club’s local players.
Since his appointment in December 2018, Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood have become regular customers of the first team along with Academy graduate colleagues Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay.
Tahith Chong, Angel Gomes and Ethan Laird also received a few minutes from the former striker.
With the Premier League announcement that teams can make five substitutions in each game for the rest of the campaign, the hope is that one or two young United players will have the opportunity to shine.
And it seems that Teden Mengi has the greatest chance of breaking through.
The 18-year-old central defender trained with United’s first team ahead of the club’s first Premier League game, away to Tottenham Hotspur on June 19.
He was involved in one of the Reds’ friendlies against West Bromwich Albion behind closed doors at Old Trafford.
With nine substitutes now admitted to the team on match day, Mengi has a realistic chance of being involved in a league game before the end of the season.
In November, Mengi led Solskjaer’s team to Europe of United League L Group L away to Astana, but he was an unused diver alongside Max Taylor and Arnau Puigmal.
Making his way into the league team would be the latest exciting development for the young defender, who has forged a reputation for himself around Carrington.
In May, he recorded fourth-speed racing in the club behind Jesse Lingard, Axel Tuanzebe and Daniel James.
In addition to being a key member of United’s Under 18, Mengi made several appearances for the Under 23, attracting praise from chief Neil Wood.
“He came to us quite early in the season and kind of like Brandon [Williams] in a way, he came from under 18 and took the opportunity, ”said Wood MEN.
“He played really well and kept his place on the team.
“And when he returned at the end of the season to lead the Youth Cup team, he put in some excellent performances there.
“We will try to work with him next season and he is one we want to” make a Brandon “with, push him forward and the goal is to try to get him to push the first team, if possible.”
His push for a senior arc is the latest sign of his rapid progress at United.
After joining in 2018, he quickly established himself in the Under 16 and Under 18, collecting 21 appearances for the latter in the 2018/19 season.
Despite being only 17, Mengi earned compliments for his guaranteed Under-23 performance alongside Di’Shon Bernard – who made his senior debut against Astana – in the heart of the defense.
Only Ethan Galbraith has appeared several times for Wood’s team this season.
This season, he alternated between the Under 23 and the Under 18 captain in the FA Youth Cup semifinals.
An excellent performer of both levels, his progress was rewarded when he signed his first professional contract with United in September.
Mengi’s continued journey through the club’s juvenile system is sure to please Solskjaer.
While Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are the pair established by the United defending center, the manager will be encouraged by the sight of another fresh-faced young man claiming his request for a first-team spot in the future.
There are still several players ahead of course, of course, but with Phil Jones and Eric Bailly’s injury history and doubts about the future of Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo, both on loan, Mengi could find opportunities for the first team much earlier than after.
Like Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Tuanzebe, Mengi will likely have to spend time on loan before being able to consolidate his place under Solskjaer.
However, with a few extra points on the Norwegian’s bench, there are few reasons why he can’t make an impression first.
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