Erik ten Hag's decisions have got a response from Victor Lindelof at Manchester United

Sarcastically cheered off last year and sarcastically cheered on this year. On Sunday, the cheers for Harry Maguire at Old Trafford emanated from the away end. Aston Villa supporters soon chanted Maguire's name.

Maguire has never earned a standalone chant from the Manchester United matchgoers and he is more than three years into his captaincy. Some have never truly warmed to him, unconvinced by the defender and his premature promotion to captain.

At least Maguire cleared comprehensively with his first two touches as United protected their narrow advantage against Villa. Late entrances have become Maguire's speciality. He was dominant in duels during his late cameos in other one-goal wins over Wolves and Manchester City. Reducing the £80million captain to a defensive shield is not sustainable beyond this season.

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Maguire had briefly moved up the centre back pecking order in March with starts against Real Betis and Fulham but another ill-timed injury has relegated him to fifth.

It feels a disservice to dub Luke Shaw an auxiliary centre-back when he has started there nine times this season and United have an unbeaten record, conceding only six times.

Body shaming Shaw remains a recurring pastime for the odd anonymous keyboard coward, but when you stand beside him he is a muscular presence. Shaw's physique actually makes him an obvious defender to convert into a centre half, particularly given Erik ten Hag's preference for right and left-footed partnerships.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer happened upon Shaw's versatility, albeit in a pragmatic back three. United are more front-footed under Ten Hag and Shaw's reading and confidence on the ball allow them to move higher up the