Manchester United have always been famed for their academy, with a number of their prospects going on to have long and successful careers either at the club or elsewhere.
After a slow few years that only saw Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and, to some extent, Brandon Williams breaking through fully to the first team, this current crop of youngsters has fans excited. Names such as Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage, Alejandro Garnacho, Charlie McNeill, Alvaro Fernandez and Dillon Hoogeworf all looking promising.
Ethan Laird, James Garner and Dylan Levitt are also impressing out on loan, but there is one name that fans are hoping to see in the first team very soon.
With his manic hair and skilful footwork, Hannibal Mejbri has quickly made a name for himself in the United youth team set up as a player who could not only be part of the first team in the future, but become a key player.
Ex-United manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer was full of praise for Mejbri when he joined up with the first team for training and then went on to subsequently make his debut for the senior side. He said: "He’s done well, the boy.
“Of course, you drip-feed them in and you don’t expect them to set the world alight. But you want to see them in this environment and he’s looked comfortable and confident.
“Hopefully, we can give him that extra motivation and inspiration to show even more of his talent and why not?”
However, it is hard to judge a player on how they will adapt to first-team football based on how they play in the youth teams. Many highly-rated prospects have failed to make an impact when they reach the top level and, since Solskjaer has now left the club, he needs to impress a new manager.
So it will be comforting for United fans to hear that not only has Mejbri been called up to Tunisia's senior team, he is thriving and, to top it off, the side are through to the final of the Arab Cup, with Mejbri picking up the man of the match award for his performance in their semi-final win over Egypt.
Mejbri has been deployed both in the number 10 position and out wide on the left-hand side which has allowed him to be a major creative outlet for his national side.
If he can continue this form when he is given opportunities for the first team under Ralf Rangnick, who has already shown he is willing to give youth a chance through Anthony Elanga, he will surely convince the German to keep him around the first-team squad and in any future plans.
Do you think Hannibal Mejbri deserves a chance in the Manchester United first team? Follow our United On My Mind writer Casey Evans on Twitter and get involved in the discussion in the comment section below.
