Fred’s injury in Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Everton has left fans wondering who interim manager Ralf Rangnick will partner with Nemanja Matic in the heart of midfield. At Goodison Park, Paul Pogba and Hannibal Mejbri were the only midfielders on the bench who have played a deeper role in the past, with Scott McTominay injured and Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata seen as more advanced options.
Given Pogba’s inconsistency this season, Rangnick may not trust the Frenchman, and so he could turn to youngster Hannibal to solve United’s midfield woes. This season, Hannibal has featured on the bench for United’s first team on five occasions, once in the Champions League, once in the FA Cup and three times in the Premier League.
But the midfielder is still yet to play a minute of football for Rangnick’s side this season. The 19-year-old Tunisian regularly starts for United’s Under-23s alongside fellow highly-rated teenager Alejandro Garnacho.
