Teden Mengi's phone call to Man Utd team-mate which sealed Birmingham transfer

Manchester United defender Teden Mengi has revealed the reasoning behind opting to move to Birmingham City on loan.

The 19-year-old has joined the Championship side on a temporary arrangement for the second half of the season.

He was expected to leave Old Trafford at the beginning of the campaign but ended up staying put. Now, after half a season of playing for the under-23s, he's looking forward to another taste of senior football.

Mengi had a spell on loan at Derby County last term and played nine times for Wayne Rooney's side. Many expected that if he was to be loaned out by United again that a return to Pride Park would be the most logical option.

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However, he's instead joined Lee Bowyer's side - after a word in his ear from United colleague Tahith Chong.

Chong impressed on loan at City up until suffering an injury that required surgery. He is expected back in the early part of this year.

And during his lay-off he has been waxing lyrical about Birmingham, as Mengi revealed.

Speaking to Birmingham's official website, he said: "It was important for me to try and find what was best for me, which is here at Blues and to just kick on and get as many games under my belt and improve as much as I can as player and as a person.

"As soon as I heard about Blues I was straight on the phone to Chongy and he told me it is great, the lads are great and that I am going to enjoy it, everyone is a nice person, so I am just looking forward to it.

"Everything I have spoken to Lee Bowyer about has been really encouraging, he believes in me, I believe in what he is saying to me. I am glad he has trusted me enough to bring me here.

"I just want to do as best as I can and then what comes will come, I am just focusing on the short term at the moment, doing my best here and then what the future holds, the future holds."

Mengi's only senior appearance this season has come as a substitute in a Champions League dead rubber against Young Boys last month.

He'll be hoping to fill the shoes of another loanee in Dion Sanderson.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers defender made 16 appearances for City but has been recalled by his parent club.

Bruno Lage's side have a clutch of players heading to the Africa Cup of Nations this month and so have moved to boost their squad numbers.

Wolves technical director Scott Sellars said: "For Dion to be playing week in, week out at Championship level has been fantastic for his development.

"With [Romain] Saiss going to Afcon and [Willy] Boly and [Yerson] Mosquera injured, this gives us an opportunity to bolster the squad."