Former England youth ace Louis Laing - once dubbed the new John Terry - on trial at Man Utd ahead of Sunderland release

A former England youth defender once dubbed ‘the next John Terry’ is on trial at Manchester United.



Sunderland centre half Louis Laing has been told he will be released from the club at the end of the season.



And The Journal has reported that the 21-year-old will train with United this week as they look to bolster the levels beneath their first-team.



The new JT: Louis Laing (left) was once likened to former England captain John Terry



Trial: Laing trained with Manchester United after being released by Sunderland

Laing has appeared at every international level between under 16 and under 19 and made his Premier League debut for the Black Cats as an 18-year-old.



Since then, however, he has failed to make a senior appearance, a combination of injury and four different managers not having helped his cause.



He made 11 appearances during a loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers two seasons ago but returned to Sunderland’s reserve-team ranks.



However, United - who sacked manager David Moyes on Tuesday - have given Laing a chance to prove his worth and he could feature when their Under 21 side travels to Reading on Thursday.



The Geordie - who also trained with Blackburn last week - featured for Sunderland during their 1-0 defeat against United’s reserves in February but has since been informed he will not be offered a new deal when his contract expires at the Stadium of Light.



Regret: Newcastle No.2 John Carver later criticised the club for missing out on Laing in 2009

Laing was signed by Sunderland from under the noses of his hometown club Newcastle in 2009.



At the time, he was likened to then England captain Terry and was rated as one of the best prospects in the country.



Newcastle assistant boss John Carver, who played for the same junior side as Laing – Montagu Boys Club – later criticised the Magpies for missing out on the youngster.



‘Recently there’s a boy called Louis Laing who played at Montagu and he went to Sunderland,’ he said in 2011.



‘He lives in Lemington (in Newcastle). For me, irrespective of what people think, that’s not right.



‘If there is a talent out there within a stone’s throw of this city, then why is he not at Newcastle United?

