Bolton Wanderers manager Dougie Freedman believes that Wilfried Zaha will emerge as a better player as a result of being overlooked by David Moyes at Manchester United.

The 21-year-old winger is reportedly on the verge of joining Cardiff City on loan and could come up against the Trotters in the FA Cup fourth-round tie on Saturday.

"It's funny how things have worked out with the timing of his move," the Daily Mail quotes Freedman as saying. "I have always been a huge admirer of Wilfried but have never been on the opposite side to him before.

"It will have been frustrating for him at United so far because all he has ever known in his career from 16 has been first-team football. All he really understands is playing on Saturday, recovering and being ready for the next game.

"So leaving London to join a huge club like United and finding opportunities scarce will not have been easy for him. It will have been a big test for him, but he is a strong character, and I am certain he will come through it."

Freedman added that he believes Zaha's decision to leave Crystal Palace for United was a right one for the England international.

"I'm still convinced it was the right move," he said. "When a club like United come knocking, you can't turn them down. It's just that they've had a difficult time, and I imagine David Moyes feels it would not be ideal to throw two youngsters in, with another (Adnan Januzaj) on the other wing.

"But there is no doubt he will be a success at United. A lot of young players there will have worked their way up the ranks and had to be patient, but Wilf has never had to face that.

'It's something he is now learning, and that's no bad thing. Even Cristiano Ronaldo needed time to adapt. He will go to Cardiff now, spend a few months playing Premier League football and then go back and prove he should be in United's team next season. I'm sure of that."

Zaha has yet to start a Premier League match for United.