Wolves linked with Man United defender

Wolves are reported to be among a group of Championship clubs chasing a loan deal for Manchester United defender Paddy McNair.

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The highly-rated centre half has only made three Premier League appearances this season and could be available in January.

Burnley and Blackburn are also said to be interested in taking McNair, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

McNair, 20, played 20 times for United last season after being handed his debut by Louis van Gaal.

He has also earned five caps for Northern Ireland, helping them to qualify for their first major tournament for 30 years when they recently secured their passage to next summer's European Championships.

McNair will be keen to get more game time under his belt to boost his prospects of being in Michael o'Neill's team in France.

He made his first start of the season in United's 1-1 draw at high-flying Leicester City last Saturday, although Van Gaal criticised McNair for being too attacking in the second half.

"We gave the ball away because McNair thought he was a striker at that moment and then the channels were open and then they could run in them," Van Gaal said.

It is not clear if Van Gaal has given the green light for McNair to be loaned out.

At the moment he is without Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, but if numbers allow in January he will surely be keen for McNair to get more experience.

Wolves will spend the next month trying to secure a loan move for a centre half in the wake of Mike Williamson returning to Newcastle United.

Kenny Jackett has just five fit senior defenders, with Kortney Hause sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Jackett had also expressed an interest in taking United's young striker James Wilson, although he recently moved to Brighton on the same day Rajiv van La Parra swapped Molineux for the Amex Stadium.