Wout Weghorst's remarkable run makes Manchester United transfer priority even clearer

Football is a cut-throat business and Erik ten Hag has not been shy of whipping out the blades at Manchester United.

Since his arrival, if players haven't been good enough they have been out of the side. Harry Maguire hasn't started two games in a row since the disastrous defeats to Brighton and Brentford at the start of the season. Scott McTominay has started one Premier League match since early October. Cristiano Ronaldo was so thoroughly put in his place he took his ball and stropped off to a football backwater only to be heard of again when 'Messi' is being chanted at him.

Maguire, the perenially-injured Anthony Martial and the out-on-loan Alex Telles have all been earmarked to be sold in the summer already and it would be a surprise if more don't leave in what has to be a big summer clear out. Ten Hag has brought discipline and high standards back to United and those who haven't been able to reach those standards, on the pitch or off it, have faced the consequences.

Read next: Casemiro ban gives final chance for struggling star to earn spot

There is one exception - Wout Weghorst.

The big striker arrived in January to boost United's attacking ranks following Ronaldo's sudden departure and after a good World Cup and first half of the season in Turkey, it looked as though he would be a decent option off the bench. Yet Martial's continued absence means he has been relied upon far more than that.

If, as expected, Weghorst is in the starting XI for Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg with Real Betis, it will be the 17th consecutive match in which he has started. In those games he has only managed to score twice, both off rebounds and neither coming in the Premier League.

Otherwise, Weghorst looking to the sky