Hannibal Mejbri is certainly making an impact on loan at Birmingham City in more ways than one.
The Manchester United midfielder had a boisterous outing in the club’s surprise 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers on Friday night, which saw him almost cost his side and also help them win the match.
The Tunisia international enjoyed an impressive performance for 54 minutes. He provided the assist for Emmanuel Longelo, who put the hosts 2-0 up on 29 minutes.
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However, the 19-year-old’s frantic style of play almost got the better of him. After picking up a yellow card earlier in the match, Hannibal rushed into a forceful tackle on fellow United loanee Ethan Laird. Referee Tim Robinson elected not to brandish a second booking, much to the fury of the QPR players.
No more than 30 seconds later Birmingham boss John Eustace decided to haul him off, replacing him with Juninho Bacuna, after the player had initially convinced him not to take him off at the break.
But Hannibal’s exit from the pitch did not signal the end of his impact on the game. QPR were awarded a penalty 10 minutes from time and the Birmingham bench told Hannibal to pass on a message about which way to dive to goalkeeper John Ruddy.
The shot-stopper went the right way and kept the spot-kick out, prompting ecstatic celebrations from Hannibal on the touchline. Towards the end of stoppage time, the youngster was seen gesticulating at the fourth official to urge the referee to blow the full-time whistle.
After the game, Eustace admitted he would “talk to Hannibal” about his on-field overeagerness after his near-dismissal. The United starlet, who has two senior Reds appearances, has played 11 games for Birmingham so far, starting four of them.
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