Rio Ferdinand has praised the performances of fellow centre-back Scott Wootton during Manchester United's pre-season tour of South Africa and China.

Twenty-year-old Wootton was promoted to United's senior squad this summer following loan stints in the Championship with Peterborough United and Nottingham Forest last season.

Despite having never featured for the first team prior to the ongoing tour, Ferdinand believes that Wootton has not looked out of place.

"I think he's done really, really well," Ferdinand told the club's official website. "He's a young lad but he has quite a mature head on his shoulders.

"He reads the game well and he's unfazed by playing in big stadiums and being on tour or around the first team."

Wootton joined United from Liverpool in 2007.