Manchester United cruised to a 3-1 victory against Championship Reading in the FA Cup fourth round to continue their impressive march to four trophies under new manager Erik ten Hag this season.
The only problem of the night was an ankle injury to Christian Eriksen, after a horrible two-foot lunge behind ogre Andy Caroll, who would later be sent off for another equally disgusting tackle on Casemiro.
Eriksen was seen limping on crutches after the match, and United fans are right to worry about the impact his absence may have on their side during this crucial series of games to come.
If the Danish midfielder faces a long spell on the sidelines, Ten Hag will need to rely more heavily on the services of Fred and Scott McTominay, two players who are not lacking in footballing ability but who do not share Eriksen’s profile on the pitch. of game.
However, if they decide to take it, an internal solution may be available to the Red Devils before the January deadline.
Hannibal Mejbri is having a stellar season at Birmingham City.
The Tunisian international was instrumental in securing his side for a fourth round replay during City’s 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, getting an assist for substitute Jordan’s stoppage-time equalizer James, after securing the ball in midfield, jumping up a challenge, and playing a lovely back kick to the edge of the box.
Mejbri has played in a more defensive midfield role than his preferred roaming playmaker position, which has had an impact on his excellent passing metrics, with the 20-year-old making just 0.9 key passes per game according to Whoscored.
Even so, he has managed to amass 4 assists in all competitions, proving once again his innate ability to make a difference in the final third, something he shares with Christian Eriksen, who has assisted seven goals in his 19 league appearances. this season.
Hannibal sparked controversy last year, when he found himself in a training camp with Brazilian full-back Alex Telles following a humiliating 4-1 loss to Brighton, but he’s come a long way since then, as evidenced by Birmingham captain Troy Deeney’s words on the Ben Foster podcast.
Deeney, 34, said: “The Man United guys are always the best. I always say this. I don’t know if it’s the grounding or the Fergie era that is still around.
“They are not rude, they are always on time, they always want to do more and they always want more. It’s a bit old school, a bit ‘Shut up and do as you’re told’.
“Other clubs, not so much…”
Ankle sprains can take anywhere from five weeks to several months to heal, depending on the severity of the injury.
Given Glazer’s reluctance to sanction new signings at the moment, with a sale looming on the horizon, getting Hannibal back from his loan spell may prove to be a smart move for both club and player.
A highly technical player, immensely resistant to pressure, possessing great pace, agility and an excellent work ethic, Mejbri ticks several boxes for Manchester United in midfield.
A withdrawal from the loan may become what they need right now to solve their problems in the middle of the park.
