Teden
MengiTeden Mengi Shirt number 43

Starting the final league match of the campaign against Liverpool, he produced an accomplished performance against opponents with far more experience and shone at the heart of the back four. A local lad with leadership qualities, he really made his mark in the Under-18s team as a first-year scholar after previously captaining the Under-16s. The centre-back finished the 2018/19 campaign with 21 appearances to his name and experience of competing in the FA Youth Cup for the Reds. He broke into the Under-23s the following season, helping Neil Wood's side to consecutive victories in the Leasing.com Trophy and a strong start to the Premier League 2 campaign. A number of solid showings earned Mengi a position in the travelling first-team squad for United's match against FC Astana in the UEFA Europa League in November 2019, although he was an unused substitute during the Reds' 2-1 defeat. The promising defender made his United debut in our Europa League return leg with LASK, coming on as an 84th-minute substitute in our 2-1 win at Old Trafford. He also made the squad that travelled to Germany for the remainder of the competition, making the bench against FC Copenhagen and Sevilla. In the 2020/21 season, Mengi was an unused substitute in the Carabao Cup matches versus Luton Town and Brighton & Hove Albion, which United both won 3-0. A move to Wayne Rooney's Derby County, on loan in January, provided a wonderful opportunity to gain more experience at senior level and, midway through his stint in the Championship, he signed a new United contract that will run until 2024, with the option of a further year extension. Injury brought a premature end to his spell with the Rams but, once recovered, Mengi headed out on loan to another Championship club, Birmingham City, in January 2022. Mengi's spell at the Blues started well, with the centre-back starting eight consecutive Championship matches, in which Birmingham only lost three times. However, in February Mengi's minutes became limited, leading to the defender only making one substitute appearance for the Blues between then and the end of the season.