The Manchester United youth players primed to impress Ralf Rangnick

With the technicalities of Covid-19 causing havoc in the Premier League, with two Manchester United games having already been postponed, this unforeseen break is a good opportunity to assess the most prominent talents in the Reds’ academy and what they are all about. New interim manager Ralf Rangnick has a proud history of spotting young stars and giving them opportunities, with the German having already given Champions League debuts to five United youngsters in the 1-1 draw with Young Boys (seems fitting of the occasion). Here is a look at five of the club’s most promising players and what they could offer to the first team short term and long term…

Teden Mengi

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Having been named an unused substitute on the away trip to Astana in November 2019, where a youthful United side lost 2-1 in a nothing game, 19-year-old Mengi was handed his senior debut as a substitute in the Europa League tie against LASK in the 84^th minute almost a year later in August 2020. Seen by the manager as an asset to the team’s chances, the pacey centre-back was included in the senior squad ahead of the 2020/21 campaign, undoubtedly improving his game, having to defend against some of the Premier League’s best forwards in training.

However, following no appearances in the first half of that campaign, Manchester-born Mengi joined Wayne Rooney’s Derby County on loan for the second half of the season, yet this move was somewhat short-lived, with an injury cutting the loan spell short in April 2021. In light of the announcement, Rooney was quoted to say how “he has been fantastic for us and we’ve seen him grow with each game”, via the Manchester United club website.

Mengi was one of a plethora of young lads to be given a chance to impress in pre-season in the Summer, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer often pairing him with fellow Englishman Will Fish.

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Although his tenacity in a tackle is one of his main attributes, the number 43’s pace and mobility makes him stand out amongst the rest in regard to his defensive qualities. Standing just below 6 ft 1, the Englishman is blessed with the rare combination of being quick off the mark and combative in the air; Mengi can be likened to Raphael Varane and Eric Bailly in that regard.

With those two players in mind, also considering Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf and Phil Jones, Mengi will be well aware that he is probably on the latter end of the pecking order when Ralf Rangnick assesses his defensive options. However, Rangnick is no stranger to making bold decisions when it comes to having an eye for young talent, and Mengi will be optimistic with a possible FA Cup run forthcoming.

Furthermore, the academy graduate’s versatility will do him no harm, as seen with his substitute appearance at left-back in the draw against Young Boys not so long ago, where he made a superb recovery tackle in what was a rather drab game of football.

James Garner

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With Reds fans often left in despair at the use of McTominay and Fred during Solskjaer’s tenure, some were crying out for 20-year-old midfielder James Garner to be thrown in at the deep end in the starting eleven ahead of this current campaign.

Whilst optimistic fans would tell you that the number 37 was ready for that step-up, it was probably sensible that Garner went out on loan to Nottingham Forest this year for the 2021/22 campaign, following a successful loan spell there during the second half of the previous season. The holding midfielder has gained some immense experience in one of the most physically demanding leagues in world football, rocking up 36 appearances during is time at the City Ground, bagging a healthy 5 goals from midfield.

Unlike many loanees at his age, Garner joined Forest with some valuable minutes behind him in a United shirt. Having been handed a debut in February 2019, coming on for Fred in the closing stages of a league win at Selhurst Park, Garner was given the chance to impress in the pre-season tour of 2019, scoring within two minutes of coming on against Perth Glory from outside the box. The young man was handed his European debut at home to Partizan in the Europa League a matter of months later.

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In regard to Garner’s game, he can be likened to Michael Carrick; calm in possession, precise in the pass and a crucial cog in the teams he features in, often going under the radar as a low-key, standout performer. The academy graduate is tenacious where he needs to be, and has a distinct ability to carry the ball forward from deeper areas of the pitch.

Whilst attackers and defenders will struggle to make the step-up due to the sheer number of options in those positions, midfielders like Garner will be buoyed by the fact that Rangnick isn’t blessed with holding midfielders, and with Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba likely to leave in the Summer for respective reasons, there will be a void to fill come August 2022 that Garner will be licking his lips at, fresh from 18 months of Championship football.

Hannibal Mejbri

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Going off appearance alone, many will liken the Tunisian attacking-midfielder to former United man Marouane Fellaini, yet Hannibal Mejbri could not be more different in playing style from the bushy-haired Belgian.

Having been handed his debut in the closing stages of the season away at Wolverhampton in May of this year, Hannibal showed in that brief cameo what he is all about; light on his feet and agile when dribbling, the academy man is a nightmare for defenders to come up against, who often resort to bringing him down to stop him in his tracks. In rough midfield battles, United’s Under-23’s coach Neil Wood has often praised the youngster for his ability to impose himself in the midfield, despite not being particularly bulky in his stature.

Born in the southeastern suburbs of Paris, the 18-year-old is rather unique to most creative midfielders in his physique. Despite being rather lean, Hannibal stands at 6 feet tall, which would make him the tallest of any of United’s central creative players, indicative that he is effective in the air.

Boasting a diverse youth career in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 over in French football, the promising midfielder has a good understanding of the European game, unlike most of the English youngsters in United’s ranks, arguably giving him leverage over others in his position.

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In the midst of the current Covid-19 chaos, many eagle-eyed United fans were keen to tune into the Arab Cup Final yesterday, where Hannibal clocked up 87 minutes against Algeria, who went on to win the game 2-0 in extra time. Impressively, the young man started all five of Tunisia’s games on the road to the final. Although the quality of football at the Arab Cup might not match that of the European Championships or the World Cup, being a standout player in Tunisia’s adventure in Qatar should not go under the radar for Hannibal, who would have likely featured against Young Boys had it not been for his international duties.

With performances under his belt, chances are soon to come for him, you would expect.

Shola Shoretire

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Aged just 17, Newcastle-born forward Shola Shoretire certainly has age on his side. Having made his senior debut as a late substitute for Marcus Rashford in the league just four days earlier, Shoretire became United’s youngest ever player to make a European appearance on 25^th February 2021, coming off the bench at 17 years and 23 days old.

Since then, the versatile Englishman has been restricted in regard to appearances, but has been a prominent figure in the Under 23s side since becoming the youngest European player for the club. He impressed in pre-season, yet his only appearance of the season so far came from the bench in Rangnick’s second game in charge against Young Boys.

Having represented England at international level for his age group, Shoretire has worked his way up through the age groups impressively, and the right-footed winger is versatile across the attacking positions, improving his chances at being in the squad.

The youngster isn’t blessed with being physically strong, so he has adapted his game to be able to drop into pockets of space in and around the final third to escape large, imposing defenders. He has a good eye for a pass, as seen with his assist for Anthony Elanga in the 4-2 pre-season defeat to QPR in the Summer. Shoretire’s height provides him with a low centre of gravity, making him light on his feet when dribbling, meaning he is a handful for defenders when he can find half a yard of space.

Anthony Elanga

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Swedish winger Anthony Elanga is arguably the most established of the names in this article so far. With explosive pace and an element of unpredictability when one-on-one with defenders, the 19-year-old can be likened to Marcus Rashford in how he tries to take on a man and get a shot off from out wide. For his age, Elanga is impressively well-built in regard to his physique, and you would expect that he will get even faster and stronger as he approaches his early 20s.

Elanga was a starter in the away win at Molineux last campaign (the final game of the season) and he justified his selection with a clinical header from a Daniel James cross. Leading the line that game in a 4-2-3-1 formation, the winger showed his versatility and, like Shoretire, he will have enhanced chances of being selected as a result. Elanga was United’s star player in an incredibly underwhelming pre-season, bagging himself some fine goals.

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He featured in both of Rangnick’s first two games in charge; the winger came on to increase the tempo against Crystal Palace, resulting in Fred’s emphatic winner that game, and he started in the European game against Young Boys.

The use of Elanga under the new manager so far suggests that he is thought of fondly by the new man in charge, and more chances should come in the near future, with an FA. Cup tie against Aston Villa soon around the corner.