What Hannibal did in second half of Manchester United vs Wrexham might have impressed Erik ten Hag

Hannibal's future

Hannibal was the most experienced member of the Manchester United midfield against Wrexham and it was a mixed night for him as he bids to prove his worth to Erik ten Hag.

The 20-year-old looks a really smooth, classy operator. With his socks rolled down there is a confidence, bordering on arrogance, when he's on the ball. It passes the eye test.

But he needs to be influencing games on a regular basis and he didn't always do that well enough against Wrexham. After a bright start, he then drifted out of the game, being too easily bullied off the ball and wasting possession at times late in the first half.

Yet he showed character to step up after Dan Gore's sending-off. Hannibal enjoyed more of the ball despite United being down to 10 and dropped deeper to take possession, with that role now vacant following the departure of Gore.

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Hannibal did his best to drive United forward despite the numerical disadvantage. He was fouled repeatedly after the break and reacted angrily at the treatment he was getting, often being brought down because he was carrying the ball past players. The fact he went down with cramp in the 89th minute showed what he had put into the game.

It feels like a defining summer for Hannibal. He is part of the senior squad on this tour but dropped down as he's unlikely to play against Real Madrid in Houston. That, in itself, felt telling, but his second-half performance here might have impressed Ten Hag.

Hannibal could yet be back with the seniors to face Borussia Dortmund in Las Vegas on Sunday. That might be a defining night, given Dortmund are one of the sides keen on signing him. There's a decision to be made for the club and