Teden Mengi might force his way into Town’s Premier League XI in the coming weeks, according to Luton Town manager Rob Edwards, if he can sustain the high levels he has showed in training since joining the Hatters.
The 21-year-old came from Manchester United shortly before the transfer window closed earlier this month, leaving Old Trafford after 15 years with the Red Devils and committing to a permanent move to Kenilworth Road.
Mengi has had limited first-team experience due to hamstring injuries, with two loan spells at Birmingham and Derby yielding 19 appearances in total, while his two Red Devils outings came in European competitions, totaling 34 minutes, implying he has limited senior experience.
However, since moving to Bedfordshire, the defender, who has represented England at U15 to U20 level, has already piqued Edwards’ interest with his efforts at the Brache, and with Luton’s defense conceding nine goals in three top flight games so far, he is giving himself every chance of earning an opportunity to tighten Town’s backline.
“T has trained extremely well,” Edwards added.
“We brought T in, obviously for the here and now, but also for the long run.”
“He’s already a fantastic age, and he’s a real physical specimen, but he’s had one or two issues in the past, so we’ve got to make sure he’s ready.”
“He’s looking really, really good right now.”
“There’s less pressure on him to come in and play, but he’s looking very, very good, and he’s definitely in the mix.”
“If he continues to train as well as he has, he has to be considered for selection because he has looked very, very good.”
“But, again, he’s a young player with one or two injuries in his recent past, so the pressure to come in right away and perform isn’t as great.”
With Luton only having one naturally left-sided centre half fit at the moment in Jamaican international Amari’i Bell, Edwards said of Mengi’s ability to step in on that side of the back three: “He can do any of those three slots.”
“That’s why we were so eager to bring him in.”