Manchester United U23s coach Neil Wood has hinted highly-rated defender Teden Mengi will leave the club on loan in January.

The Manchester United centre-half spent the second half of last season out on loan with Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

“I’m not sure if the chance was there for him to go out on loan [in the summer] or not,” Wood said.

“But it is one of them where he spent pre-season with the first-team, he didn’t end up going out on loan and he’s come to pick up game time with us.

“I think for him it is just important he keeps getting game time, he keeps himself fresh and by January his pathway might change. He might end up going out on loan which I think would probably be the case.

“It is important he gets his confidence, he gets himself playing right and he is making himself looking a good player like he has done with the U23s.”