Erik ten Hag has picked winner between two players fighting for Manchester United starting role

Diogo Dalot or Aaron Wan-Bissaka? That was not a sensible question throughout the first months of Manchester United's season.

Dalot was the first-choice right-back and he was arguably the finest player in his position in the Premier League. He enjoyed an excellent start to the new campaign, whilst Wan-Bissaka was forgotten and sidelined with a back injury.

The latter had also been informed last summer that he was free to leave the club and that seemed the best option for his career. There was a feeling Wan-Bissaka, who was signed for £50million in 2019, would benefit from a clean slate elsewhere.

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Yet in the space of around six months, Dalot's performances have become inconsistent and Wan-Bissaka has been subject to a renaissance, which has seen the pair swap positions in the pecking order - that was once unforeseeable - at right-back.

Ten Hag was asked about their battle in early March and said: “I think it's really close, the competition between them. Maybe Aaron gives you a little bit more defending and Diogo gives you maybe a little more offence.

"But I have to say I think they both have made progress in both areas, so it's really close. You look at the opponent, you look at the load on the players and you have to manage that when you have two almost-equal players.

"Then the form they are in is also an issue and then, of course, how is the team doing in the moment? Then you make your decision.”

Ten Hag described the pair as 'almost-equal players', but his recent team selections suggest he's leaning toward Wan-Bissaka, as the 25-year-old has started eight of the last nine matches, only being moved to the bench against Aston Villa.

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