Despite making just eight senior appearances, Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri has already built himself a reputation.
The Tunisian has played more times for his country than his club, but it was a cameo for United which saw his tough-tackling no-nonsense style come to the fore. Hannibal was a late substitute during the 4-0 mauling by Liverpool back in April.
His introduction didn’t do anything to arrest United’s slump on Merseyside, but he showed a glimpse of what he could offer in a robust 10-minute spell on the pitch. In that time he put in heavy tackles on three Liverpool players, including a foul on Jordan Henderson which saw him cautioned.
On a thoroughly miserable night in a season littered with them, Hannibal at least put up a fight against their dearest rivals, earning praise from United legend Gary Neville.
“To be fair at least the kid's showing something,” Neville explained during commentary. “Honestly, it takes a young kid to come on and show the rest of them how to sprint to the ball and put a challenge in. I'm actually proud of him.
"Maybe he doesn't like the idea of Liverpool passing around him, I wish the others were the same."
He later clarified his comments and added: "I erred on to the slightly unprofessional side of commentary tonight when I said that the kid…to be fair I was proud of him because he was going around trying to top people and trying to kick people.
"But he demonstrated something, he showed something. He didn’t like the idea of Liverpool, at Anfield, passing it around him and the idea of Liverpool taking the mick out of him and his team-mates.
“At least he demonstrated something. I am not saying it is brilliant because he could have hurt the Liverpool players, but as a Manchester United fan you can respond to that.”
However, one man that was reportedly unimpressed was interim boss Ralf Rangnick. According to ESPN the veteran German tactician blasted the midfielder after the full-time whistle, demoting him back to the Under 23s.
He made just one further appearance under Rangnick, starting on the final day against Crystal Palace. But if his performance against Aston Villa is anything to go by, Rangnick’s words of warning went in one ear and then swiftly out of the other.
Coming on as a second-half sub in Perth, Hannibal was straight into the thick of action and threw himself into a number of tackles. In one incident the 19-year-old flew into a challenge with Villa stopper Robin Olsen, with the Swede lucky to avoid injury.
Rangnick’s departure from Old Trafford may yet prove to be a timely boost to his fledgling career - particularly with Erik ten Hag’s penchant for developing young talent. And the Dutchman revealed he had been impressed with Hannibal in training and will now need to convince him he is ready for competitive football.
"I think they do well but I also know the standards in the Premier League and European football are high,” Ten Hag said this week. “It's always about 'are they ready to take the responsibility, to play, to contribute, are they conscious of those situations?'
"That is what I have to approve and then I will take my decisions. They have potential some of them, it is quite clear."
