Manchester United undroppable has a new competitor for his first-team place

For the first three months of this season, Diogo Dalot was untouchable in the Manchester United side. A lack of competition and an improvement in his own performances under Erik ten Hag had created a perfect storm for the right-back.

Dalot started the first 20 games of the campaign and was one of United's standout performers. He had edged ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka last season and now there was a gulf between the pair. While Dalot was winning praise for his displays, Wan-Bissaka played just four minutes before the World Cup.

So far was he from being a part of the long-term picture, that a right-back to put some pressure on Dalot was initially looked at as a potential January deal. In fact, when Dalot was suspended for United's final game before the tournament started, it was Tyrell Malacia who started as right-back at Fulham.

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So when Dalot picked up a hamstring strain during the World Cup, it looked like it could become a major issue for Ten Hag. At that point, Wan-Bissaka had barely played and didn't seem to fit. He isn't an instinctively attacking full-back and Dalot had mastered the demands of that position under his new manager, making up an extra man in midfield at times.

But the improvement in Wan-Bissaka's game over the last three months is one of the triumphs of the Ten Hag era. If Marcus Rashford is the poster boy for the way this regime can improve players, then Wan-Bissaka isn't far behind.

The 25-year-old was the subject of loan interest from bottom half Premier League clubs in January and could have left but for Dalot's fitness issues. Instead, he has been reintegrated into the side and looks more confident than he has done since the first few