Hannibal Mejbri has already passed Erik ten Hag's key requirement to succeed in his Manchester United team, after the teenager was praised by Birmingham City manager John Eustace for his hard work and commitment.
Hannibal joined the Reds from Monaco three years ago and made two Premier League appearances last term. The 19-year-old was included in United's pre-season tour of Thailand and Australia by Ten Hag, but after missing out on the first four games of the season, opted for a move to Birmingham on loan to continue his development at St Andrew's.
United have a positive relationship with the Championship side, having sent both Teden Mengi and Tahith Chong on loan to the club last campaign.
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Most recently, Hannibal caught the eye once again as he returned to domestic action during Birmingham's 0-0 draw with Blackpool over the weekend. The Tunisian impressed during the game despite his side's failure to find a breakthrough, as he added yet another match to a growing list of impressive performances during his loan spell.
Discipline may still be a slight issue for the young midfielder, but Ten Hag will be delighted with Hannibal's time on loan in the Championship so far. The Dutchman will be especially pleased with the glowing review from Birmingham's manager, with the fan favourite showing his exceptional work ethic.
“He is a cracking young player, we are very fortunate to have him here,” Eustace said. “The most pleasing thing is that work rate. He has come from Manchester United with a big reputation. But to earn the right to play, earn the right to do anything, you have to work hard. And to play in this team as well, you need a team of workers.
“He has come in, he has shown he is very hungry, he has got that desire to work hard, the effort is there. He is doing very well.”
One of Ten Hag's non-negotiables is that his players put the team first and give their all when they are on the pitch. Eustace's words could hardly be any better for Hannibal, as he looks to show the United manager why he deserves a chance in the first-team upon his return to Old Trafford next campaign.
There may still be a long way to go between now and the end of the season, yet the teenager has certainly already passed the first and most crucial challenge should he want to succeed at United under Ten Hag.
The question now is whether Hannibal can keep up a level of consistency with his performances - with every indication so far showing that he can.
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