Ralf Rangnick must start three Manchester United academy youngsters vs Brentford

Ralf Rangnick made a double change with 10 minutes to play in Manchester United's match against Chelsea on Thursday. Juan Mata and Phil Jones, who are both on borrowed time at the club, were substituted on for Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic.

United had contended with an injury crisis ahead of the match and four teenagers from the academy - Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri, Shola Shoretire and Alejandro Garnacho - were on the bench. Although Rangnick eventually handed Garnacho his debut with just a few minutes to play, his decision to introduce Mata and Jones over the youngsters on the bench didn't make much sense.

United have been open to offers for Jones, 30, for some time now. The centre-back has no future at the club while Mata, 34, is set to leave on a free transfer in just a few weeks. Rangnick's decision to introduce Jones could be explained by the German waiting to see the game out, however, the decision to play Mata over 19-year-old Hannibal was particularly hard to understand.

ALSO READ: 'Absolute steal' - The Manchester United academy defender that Sir Alex Ferguson regrets selling.

Hannibal was named United's U23s' Player of the Year last term. He made his first-team debut against Wolves on the final day of last season shortly after winning that award and supporters were desperate to see more of him across the summer months.

That hasn't happened. Hannibal started the season in the academy but he sustained an injury in mid-September, which halted any momentum he was hoping to build. The youngster returned to full fitness in November, playing 70 minutes for United's U23s, before he received the call to represent Tunisia at the Arab Cup. That was an opportunity the player couldn't refuse.

Hannibal